(WXYZ) — The State of Michigan is back on track, flattening the curve of COVID-19 cases after a partial shutdown going back to November.
State health officials say we're trending down in the number of cases reported on a daily basis after a surge in the fall.
MDHHS Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said there's been tremendous progress, comparing where we are now to where we've been in recent months, but there's still work that needs to be done.
COVID-19 levels in the state are nearing where we were in October and the daily caseload is on the decline.
"Michigan largely avoided a post-holiday surge because we all did the right thing," Khaldun said.
According to the MDHHS, the state's daily new case count has dropped 72%, and the positive test rate decreased about 5% from mid-November to Feb. 1.
That timeframe coincides with the ban on restaurant indoor dining, the halting of in-person learning at high schools, and more parts of the pause.
We're also vaccinating more people and people who've had the virus have developed antibodies.
"I prefer to head off problems before they're problems rather than, you know, try to deal with them after they happen," Beaumont Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Matthew Sims said.
As the state continues to meet the challenges, there is new concern with the new B.1.1.7. variant that's cropped up in Washtenaw and Wayne counties.
Fingers are crossed that spread doesn't increase with high school sports allowed to resume. The same goes for sports on a national level with the Super Bowl normally bringing people together this weekend.
"This Super Bowl Sunday, please avoid gatherings and if you do gather please keep it limited to one other household make sure you're wearing a mask, socially distancing and washing your hands frequently," Khaldun said.
Dr. Anthony Fauci is echoing that sentiment, saying he doesn't want the Super Bowl to be a superspreader event with parties, so he's advising people to lay low and cool it.
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