Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer extended the emergency declaration until the middle of next month as the state experiences an increase in positive cases of the new coronavirus.
Whitmer signed an executive order Tuesday that extends his previous declaration of emergency and disaster to Aug. 11 in response to each region of the state experiencing an increase in new COVID-19 cases in the past three weeks.
CASES OF CORONAVIRUSES IN MICHIGAN LINKED TO THE FOURTH OF JULY
COVID-19 has now killed more than 6,000 people in Michigan. That’s over 6,000 of our parents, grandparents, friends, and neighbors. And the growing numbers we’ve seen in the past few weeks prove that this virus remains a very real threat in our state, “Whitmer, a Democrat, said in a statement.
Whitmer urged Michiganns in the state to “remain vigilant and continue to do everything possible to protect our loved ones.”
“That means wearing a mask over your mouth and nose and practicing safe physical distance when going out in public. If we all do our part now, there is a greater chance that schools can resume in-person learning in the fall,” said Whitmer. . “Be smart, stay safe and mask yourself.”
Last week, Whitmer issued an executive order requiring him to cover his face while he was indoors.
“Since the beginning of this health crisis, Governor Whitmer has taken all steps to protect the health and safety of the people of Michigan, including wearing a mask or face mask since May,” a spokesman for the governor told Fox News last week. “The new executive order requires people to wear a mask at all times in indoor public spaces, when they cannot maintain a 6-foot distance in outdoor public spaces, and requires companies to follow a ‘shirtless, shoeless, no mask – there is no service policy for customers entering your establishment. “
WHITMER MASK MANDATE
Whitmer’s office said the increase in new cases in the state reflects a national trend, saying that positive cases of COVID-19 “are growing in 39 states and in some are increasing uncontrollably.”
Whitmer’s office also said Michigan processed more unemployment claims in a single day than “in the most painful week of the Great Recession,” and said the state has already seen its highest unemployment rate since the Great Depression.
“The Michigan Treasury Department predicts that this year the state will lose $ 1 to $ 3 billion in revenue,” his office said.
As of Tuesday, Michigan reported more than 77,300 positive cases of COVID-19 and more than 6,300 deaths.
