(WXYZ) — Tracking the apex of the deadly coronavirus in Southeast Michigan. A Beaumont doctor is sharing his knowledge with 7 Action News.
Dr. Matthew Sims tells 7 Action New 80 percent of all coronavirus cases in Michigan are in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties. Meaning people in our area need to stay informed about when the virus could peak.
“It varies day to day," Sims said. "I don’t think we know enough yet to say we’re really starting to hit the peak.”
Sims is the director of research of infectious diseases for Beaumont Health. He says an apex for coronavirus cases in Michigan could be sometime in the next month, with Wayne County leading Oakland and Macomb in cases. His research indicates even when a peak takes place people must remember the following.
“One of the things to be aware, just because we’ve hit the apex doesn’t mean we can leave the house and go back to normal," he said. "If that does happen, we’re going to surge again.”
While the White House is suggesting an apex for parts of the country could come within six to seven days, the State of Michigan says that figure is closer to a month away.
A spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says different models are based on varying data, including case count, community spread and observance of shelter in place and social distancing guidelines.
“The key is hit the apex and get the numbers down, so there’s not much in the community anymore and by that point hopefully enough people have been exposed that some are even developing immunity,” Sims said.
Beaumont Health is currently caring for more than 1,070 confirmed COVID-19 in-patients. In the meantime, their CEO is calling for a more accurate and transparent statewide hospital census.
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