Michigan Hospitals Less Full Than Nonpandemic Years

When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer imposed a statewide stay-at-home on March 23, 2020, she said it was needed “so our health system has a fighting chance” by keeping people out of hospitals.

As of Aug. 24, the hospital bed occupancy rate in Michigan was 62.4%, which is below occupancy rates typical of years when there was no pandemic.

There were a total of 637 people hospitalized with the COVID-19 in Michigan as of Aug. 24, according to a survey of the state's hospitals.

By comparison, there were 3,357 people hospitalized with COVID-19 on April 20, five times more.

The Centers for Disease Control And Prevention reports that Michigan’s average bed occupancy rates were 66% in 1990 and 2010 and 65% in 2000 and 2015.