mlive A man in his 50s died from the coronavirus at a Beaumont Hospital in Wayne County Wednesday, the first death in Michigan since the first COVID-19 case was reported just over one week ago.
Beaumont Health confirmed the man, whose name was not released, died early Wednesday morning. Michigan public health officials reported 15 additional confirmed cases of the new coronavirus COVID-19 on March 18, raising the total to 80.
âOur medical team went to extraordinary efforts to care for this patient and we are deeply saddened by his passing and empathize with his family,â Beaumont Health Chief Nursing Officer Susan Grant said in a release. âOur physicians, nurses and medical staff are all working together to care for COVID-19 patients. During a time like this, we are united to battle this virus.”
Beaumont Health reported that the man had other underlying medical conditions.
Residents across the Lower Penninsula are testing positive for the coronavirus. Fifteen of the stateâs 83 counties have at least one confirmed case.
Wayne and Oakland counties are tied for the most cases of any Michigan county so far, with 23 each.
Beaumont has also been active in screening and testing patients for the coronavirus, processing 500 tests on March 17. Nurses and staff members are answering approximately 5,000 calls a day on Beaumontâs coronavirus hotline at (800) 592-4784.