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WATCH: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer updates COVID-19 response

Posted at 9:12 AM, Feb 17, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-17 17:33:02-05

(WXYZ) — Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and MDHHS Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khadlun provided an update on the state's response to COVID-19 on Wednesday afternoon.

State health officials say Michigan is trending down in the number of cases reported on a daily basis after a surge in the fall.

The state is currently at 113 cases per million people, which is down 85% from the peak in mid-November when a partial shutdown was put into effect.

Also, the state said 5.2% of hospital beds are being used to treat COVID-19 patients, down 79% from the peak in late fall, and 3.9% of tests are coming back positive, which has been on the decline for five weeks.

Whitmer also urged the legislature to pass her COVID relief plan, which she introduced a few weeks ago.

As far as vaccinations, Whitmer said they have administered more than 1.6 million vaccines, and the state ranks ninth in the country for vaccines adminstered.