Promising that she and her appointed Michigan Economic Recovery Council will continue to monitor the data in order to advance re-engagement of the state’s economy, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressed thanks to the people of the state for continuing to stay home and stay safe as testing for COVID-19 continues on the increase, while reminding others that her orders aren’t “just a suggestion, they are the law.”
While the manufacturing industry begins to re-engage starting today, the governor did not have any news today for other sectors hopeful of returning to work in the near future. Regarding the Owosso barber who has defied the executive order and returned to his shop to cut hair, Whitmer said, “I know a lot of people that could use a haircut, yours truly included, as well as my husband, but we need to continue to work to drive down the threat of the virus. It’s working, but in spite of the voices of frustration, the executive orders have the force of law. They are not just a suggestion, or helpful hints. It is the law, and I expect all Michiganders to adhere to the law.”
Calling for an ongoing strategic re-engagement plan to continue to evolve, the governor says “everyone has to do their part,” in order to achieve the re-opening of the state’s economy.
The state is continuing to ramp up testing and has an aggressive goal on that front, and there is good news in that even as the degree of testing rises, the percentage of positive cases has been on the decline, further reinforcing the governor’s contention that the plan is working. She reported at the outset of her press conference today that Michigan is now seeing the lowest percentage of new positive cases that we’ve seen since the beginning, but reminds that despite that, “thousands have died.” To date, Michigan has witnessed 47,552 positive cases for COVID-19, with 4,584 deaths registered thus far.
Asked about death threats that have been made against her own life, the governor said she was disappointed that the Michigan Capitol Commission did not take immediate action today following the Attorney General’s opinion that they have the legal authority to ban weapons inside the State Capitol building because so many who work there are fearful for their safety.
She said that she is “increasingly worried about the violent, racist, extreme rhetoric” emerging from protesters in Michigan, and asked the other side of the political aisle “to stand up and denounce this activity,” and “do their part to lower the heat,” of that rhetoric. With more protests planned in the state capital, Whitmer says, “If you choose to demonstrate, wear a mask. Stay six feet apart. Respect one another.” In the meantime, she intends to “continue to look at the data” to determine next steps in the re-opening of Michigan’s economy.
Tomorrow marks nine weeks since the shelter-in-place orders began in Michigan and they currently run through May 28th. She says she recognizes “the unprecedented toll” that nine weeks of “cancelled plans, holiday dinners over Zoom,” and other hindrances to every day life have resulted, but adds, “Michigan is leading the country in setting an example with millions staying home and staying safe,” and the proof is in the numbers which continue to decline.
While she has not selected any region of the state from among her MERC panel’s eight regions to be allowed to re-engage at this time, the state continues to look at “density and trajectory” according to Whitmer to potentially consider one or more sectors in the future.
