In light of the new three week “pause” order from the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services adding restrictions in the state, Michigan’s Attorney General is urging local authorities to enforce the rules, while the two major parties are trading barbs with one another in response to the latest orders.
As the Great Lakes State faces a growing number of COVID-19 cases, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued new a public health order to slow the spread of the deadly virus. On behalf of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, department Communications Director Kelly Rossman-McKinney provided the following statement:
“Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel recognizes and strongly supports the need for these important measures in an effort to stem the dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases in Michigan. This virus is quickly spreading throughout our state and we must do everything we can to stop it and flatten the curve. As with past orders, county public health departments and local law enforcement are primarily responsible for enforcement in their own communities and we hope they do so. We stand ready to assist them in their efforts.”
Questions about the new MDHHS order may be directed to the COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136 or by sending an email to the state’s COVID-19 email address.
Meanwhile, leaders of the two major parties fired across one another’s bows tonight.
The following statement is from Michigan Republican Party Chairman Laura Cox, regarding the Whitmer administration’s COVID-19 shutdown announcement:
“Yet again Governor Whitmer continues to show her contempt for the people’s elected representatives. Instead of working with our elected representatives at the state and local level, she is trying a one-size-fits-all approach that will only exacerbate the issues our state and its economy are facing. Small businesses, particularly restaurants, cannot sustain themselves through another lock-down, and these new orders will certainly spell doom for the livelihood of many. I call on Governor Whitmer to reconsider her course of action and meet with our legislators to come up with a solution that works for all Michiganders.”
On the other side of the aisle, the Michigan Democratic Party voiced support for Governor Whitmer, and released the following statement on behalf of Chair Lavora Barnes:
“We stand with Governor Whitmer and support the steps she is taking to keep Michiganders safe. The complete inaction of the Republican controlled legislature over the last 8 months is shameful. Even more shameful is that while cases of COVID-19 are spiking and our health systems are overwhelmed, the State Senate, led by Republicans, is on a hunting break until December 1. The GOP’s irresponsible, unscientific, and dangerous approach to dealing with this virus is killing Michiganders every day. We continue to stand with Governor Whitmer and will hold Republicans across Michigan accountable for their need to play political games with the health and safety of our families and loved ones.”
You can see the complete detail of the new orders from this earlier post on Moody on the Market:
https://www.moodyonthemarket.com/mi-health-dept-issues-three-week-epidemic-order-to-slow-covid/
