LANSING – It's looking bleak in Michigan with the rise of COVID-19 cases across the Wolverine State.

That was part of the message delivered Thursday afternoon by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Early on in the fight against the pandemic, Whitmer says Michigan residents took the necessary steps to keep numbers down and people safe.

Whitmer says Michigan is in the worst part of the pandemic to date. This is the moment medical experts have been warning us about and dreading since the beginning of this pandemic. She says the case numbers are skyrocketing in Michigan.

As of Thursday, the State of Michigan is reporting 6,940 new cases of COVID-19 and 45 more deaths.

Locally, the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency says St. Joseph County is reporting 42 new cases, bringing the total number of positive cases to 1,710 and there have been 28 deaths. Branch County has 61 new cases with 1,276 positive cases and 17 deaths.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says Cass County 1,361 cases of COVID-19 and 26 deaths.

Whitmer says hospitals across Michigan are nearing capacity and are going through the personal protection equipment that the State has worked to stockpile.

Whitmer urged Michigan residents to continue following the normal precautions of social distancing, washing your hands and staying home if you are feeling ill. She also urges people not to travel for
Thanksgiving and to keep gatherings to just their immediate households.