Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extended Michigan’s state of emergency order on Tuesday, pushing back its end date until October 27.
Whitmer originally declared a state of emergency in Michigan on March 10 in response to the coronavirus pandemic and has continuously extended it since then. She also extended four other executive orders that protect people in prison and long-term care facilities, those who are working in establishments that sell food, and those who are considered at-risk.
“We have saved thousands of lives in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among our most vulnerable populations – people of color, seniors, and people with disabilities. Because we took swift action, the health of our families and our economy are faring better than our neighbors in other states,” Whitmer said in a statement. “This emergency will end, and it is a matter of months. But we are not out of the woods yet.”
The order was issued under the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945. Whitmer said in the order that it may be extended again.
Michigan currently has more than 1240,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 6,700 deaths, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. More than 95,000 cases are considered recovered.
Whitmer’s other orders allows the use of e-signatures and e-notaries, limits the entry of people into health care and long-term care facilities, enhances cleaning and testing protocol in prisons, and requires places that sell food to have a reserved shopping time for vulnerable people.
“Right now, the federal government and all 50 states have been under some form of state of emergency. We must continue doing our part to fight this virus on behalf of our families, frontline workers, and our small businesses,” Whitmer said.
Read the emergency declaration executive order here.
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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair.
