Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extended Michigan’s coronavirus emergency and disaster declaration until August 11, per a new executive order signed on Tuesday.
The extension comes after every region in the state saw an uptick in confirmed cases of COVID-19, Whitmer’s office said. The order was issued under the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945.
“COVID-19 has now killed more than 6,000 people in Michigan. That’s more than 6,000 of our parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors,” Whitmer said in a statement. “And the rising numbers we’ve seen over the past few weeks prove that this virus is still a very real threat in our state.”
Whitmer originally declared a state of emergency in Michigan on March 10, after activating the state’s emergency operations center on February 29. The state saw its first two coronavirus cases on March 12 and its first death from the virus on March 18.
“Throughout this crisis, the vast majority of Michiganders have done their part, but we must remain vigilant and continue to do everything we can to protect our loved ones,” Whitmer said. “That means wearing a mask over your mouth and nose and practicing safe physical distancing 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. Be smart, be safe, and mask up.”
An executive order signed Friday now requires Michigan residents to wear face coverings while indoors or in crowded, outdoor areas.
Daily coronavirus case counts now surpass 20 cases per million in the Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo areas, according to the governor’s office.
Michigan currently has more than 70,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The death toll in the state is 6,081.
Read the full executive order here.
– – –
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair. Email her at [email protected].
