A new, comprehensive study of government performance during the COVID-19 pandemic is giving Michigan higher marks than previous studies for preventing deaths. While Michigan had the 10th highest COVID death rate by population, the study found that when researchers adjusted for the state’s age (an older population than the national average) and health (a sicker population), Michigan actually performed among the top 16 states in the nation in preventing death. Speaking of COVID, the state recorded more than 4,400 newly confirmed cases in the past week and 63 deaths.