By By Dan Hounsell

One year after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the illness again is threatening to overwhelm the capacity of hospitals and other healthcare facilities to effectively treat patients stricken with the illness.

In Michigan, the surge of COVID-19 is showing no signs of relenting, as hospitals around the state report increasing numbers of patients battling the illness, according to ABC 12.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan’s chief medical executive and an emergency physician, said 24 hospitals in the state are at 90 percent or higher patient capacity, adding that nearly 18 percent of inpatient hospital beds statewide were occupied by COVID-19 patients.

Among the biggest drivers of coronavirus infections in the state, health officials have said, are outbreaks among youth athletes and those associated with K-12 schools, according to the Detroit Free Press. This week, the state reported 312 ongoing or new school outbreaks, which includes infections linked to classrooms, after-school activities and sports.