News Bite

State Report Boasts Lower Michigan Case Rate; Silent On Higher Death Rate

When it comes to COVID, what is more important when it comes to government mandates protecting its citizens – a lower case rate or a lower death rate? The state of Michigan celebrates its lower case rate when compared to its neighbors — and ignores the fact that people here died of COVID at a higher rate than in those states.

The state of Michigan shows in a report the trend line of cases in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. The chart carries this headline: “Cumulative COVID-19 Case Rates: Midwest Comparison.”

The state adds, “Michigan’s mitigation policies helped control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 relative to other states in the Midwest, particular during the surge in November and December.”

But the state doesn’t include a chart from the CDC that could provide death rates in those states. It shows Michigan with the highest death rate among those states, as measured per 100,000 people.

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.