Michigan Adds 1,203 New Coronavirus Cases, 63 Deaths Tuesday

MICHIGAN — Michigan reported 1,203 new cases of the coronavirus and added 63 more COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, 36 of which were identified through a vital records review and occurred previously, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The updated figures bring the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan to 562,510 and grow the number of reported COVID-19 deaths in the state to 14,672, according to MDHHS data.

The state added 2,066 new coronavirus cases on Monday while also adding eight more COVID-19 deaths. On Saturday, Michigan announced that the number of people in the state who have recovered from the coronavirus had reached 481,000.

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Tuesday's updated coronavirus figures in Michigan come the same day a non-profit organization that advocates for high school athletes filed a lawsuit against Michigan's top health official, MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel.

The lawsuit — filed by Let Them Play Michigan — argues that a ban on winter sports issued by the MDHHS violates constitutional clauses on equal protection, due process, free assembly and free education, as well as Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act related to age-based discrimination and state administrative procedures, Let Them Play Michigan Attorney Peter Ruddell said in a virtual news conference Tuesday.

"We would prefer not to take court action. Unfortunately, we were forced to file a complaint this morning," Ruddell said.

The state also announced late on Monday that nearly 9,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine that had temperature issues while being shipped in mid-January have been deemed viable by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Moderna.

The 8,900 doses were in 21 McKesson shipments in mid-January that had their temperature reported as going out of range and getting too cold by the monitoring device used to check the vaccine temperature while in transport.

"We are pleased we will be able to use these vaccines to protect Michiganders from the virus as we work to reach our goal of vaccinating 70 percent of Michiganders over age 16 as quickly as possible with the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine," said Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan's chief medical executive and chief deputy for health.