National overview
The governor of Michigan traveled outside the city to visit a father of chronic diseases
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has been traveling out of state for the past six months and at least one month with her father, who has a chronic illness, a spokeswoman told MIRS News in Lansing on Monday. The news comes after Whitmer warned of traveling to Florida for spring break amid an increase in coronavirus cases in the state. Several Michigan health officials have reportedly traveled out of state for spring break, despite Whitmer’s recommendation to stay in Michigan. Whitmer’s ‘father was fully vaccinated and the governor is being tested regularly and has never tested positive for COVID,’ spokeswoman Tiffany Brown told MIRS. The governor traveled to see “her elderly father who has a chronic illness” and did not show up during the spring break, Brown said. Brown did not say to which state Whitmer traveled; However, a source told MIRS that the governor’s father has a home in Florida. Whitmer also traveled from Michigan to attend President Biden’s inauguration and visit the Michigan National Guard troops stationed in Washington, DC, after supporters of President Trump rioted at the Capitol in January. “All trips were very short, two full days or less, and follow the guidelines for public health and were carried out when Michigan’s daily positivity rate was in the low single digits,” Brown noted. “Due to ongoing security concerns, we will not comment further on the governor’s personal schedule.” Ted Goodman, communications director of the Republican Party of Michigan, criticized Whitmer’s decision to travel. “The Whitmer Government and the Democratic Party have closed the economy in Michigan, closed schools and still warned us to travel during this pandemic, yet it refuses to abide by the same set of rules,” Goodman said in a written statement. “Government Whitmer’s COVID-19 response can be summed up as – rules for you, but not for me. ”