Even though over 85 million Americans have received COVID-19 vaccinations, the spread of the coronavirus is still on the rise across the country, including Michigan.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Michigan now has the second highest COVID-19 case rate per capita in the United States.  This was reported Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the same day state health officials announced 4,454 new coronavirus cases, the biggest daily total this year.

It seems as if every time Michigan lifts COVID-19 restrictions just by a little margin, the numbers go back up very quickly.

Get our free mobile app

The Detroit Free Press adds that it comes as the Michigan Health and Hospital Association sounded alarms Wednesday that the state's hospitals are filling up with COVID-19 patients.

When you break it all down, this marks a 633% rise in hospitalizations since March 1 among people ages 30-39 and an 800% increase among those 40-49 years old.  (Detroit Free Press)

More often than not, we're all hearing about more people becoming infected with the COVID-19 virus.

Even though my daughter is staying home to focus on school work with online learning, we just found out a few days ago that one of her high school class mates was diagnosed with the coronavirus.

According to the Detroit Free Press, health officials suspect the growing case rates are driven by more transmissible strains of the virus, including B.1.1.7, or the United Kingdom variant, as well as outbreaks tied to schools and among student athletes.

I'll tell you this, even if you get your Covid-19 vaccination soon, please continue wearing your mask and staying six feet apart.  There's just no guarantee for anyone!

LOOK: Answers to 30 common COVID-19 vaccine questions

While much is still unknown about the coronavirus and the future, what is known is that the currently available vaccines have gone through all three trial phases and are safe and effective. It will be necessary for as many Americans as possible to be vaccinated in order to finally return to some level of pre-pandemic normalcy, and hopefully these 30 answers provided here will help readers get vaccinated as soon they are able.

More From 1240 WJIM AM