Michigan Sets New Covid Case Record Just Hours Ahead Of Trump Rally

Topline

Michigan has set a new record for daily increase in coronavirus cases, joining 10 other states reporting new record high case increases, with the news coming just hours before President Donald Trump plans to hold a rally there—another example of Trump’s campaign trying to draw big crowds amid pandemic fears.

Key Facts

Key Background

The U.S. is now officially in the midst of one of its biggest coronavirus spikes throughout the pandemic. Johns Hopkins University reported 69,156 new coronavirus cases in the U.S. on Friday—the sixth-highest single-day increase since the pandemic struck. It’s the highest single-day jump since July 29th, according to JHU, as the 7-day average for new cases has again risen above 60,000.

What To Watch For

Hospitalizations are also on the rise in Michigan, hitting the 1,000 mark on Friday for the first time since May 21, when the state was recovering from its massive spring outbreak. The 7-day average for deaths has also steadily risen in Michigan for about the past month.

Tangent

Some Michigan doctors are calling on Trump to cancel his rally amid the record case rise. Dr. Rob Davidson, executive director of the Committee to Protect Medicare, said Friday that Trump “should cancel his campaign event and focus on fighting the pandemic with science and evidence.”

Further Reading

10 States Report Record High Covid-19 Cases As U.S. Surpasses 8 Million (Forbes)

Michigan reports its highest number of new coronavirus cases in a single day (CNN)

Michigan doctors call on Trump to cancel Muskegon rally, citing rising coronavirus cases (Detroit Free Press)

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