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In Michigan, we sort of are seeing better numbers. by grnd

I know that sounds crazy given that we have more hospitalizations than at any time in the pandemic. But the demographic has changed: whereas before, the hospitalizations were mainly 65+, now those being hospitalized are mainly under 65. Over 70% of 65+ have received one dose of vaccine (and almost 65% are fully vaccinated). The vaccine appears to be protecting those most vulnerable (and most vaccinated) from this current surge. The surge is in a younger, substantially less-vaccinated demographic.

And the surge is happening in Michigan because we have substantial spread of the more contagious B.1.1.7. variant, coupled with pandemic fatigue and also that we had a larger pool of uninfected people due to having done a pretty good job up to this point of keeping infections down.

Deaths are a lagging indicator, but so far they do not seem to be ramping up as before when cases and hospitalizations spiked.