Summary of COVID Restrictions Whitmer Government Wants Michiganders to Follow for Two Weeks

LANSING, Mich. – Last week, Michigan Government Gretchen Whitmer talked about the worrying rise of COVID-19 cases across the state and asked residents to voluntarily comply with various restrictions over the next two weeks.

Whitmer held her first COVID-19 briefing in 21 days on Friday. She and Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, medical CEO of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, revealed the case and positivity rates four times higher than it was in mid-February.

You can see the full briefing from April 9, 2021 in the video above.

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“We have not seen such a positive percentage since our first boom last year, a year ago, and that is worrying because we are doing a lot more tests than we did then,” Khaldun said. “It indicates that there is now a broad community distribution.”

The possibility of a new executive order is not completely ruled out, but Whitmer said she believes Michiganders have the necessary tools to slow down the spread without additional action from MDHHS.

Instead, she asks residents to follow a new set of voluntary restrictions for two weeks.

Whitmer asked high schools in Michigan to go back to distance education for the next two weeks.

Officials are concerned about the spread of COVID-19 in high schools as students return from the spring break. Whitmer encouraged districts to have everyone tested before returning from the break.

“Given where we are with our numbers, MDHHS recommends that all high schools interrupt personal learning for two weeks,” Khaldun said. ‘Students and staff must also be tested if they traveled during that time. As the governor mentioned, we have more than 56 pop-up test sites with schools on campuses across the state offering spring testing. “

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The state has asked all schools to offer a personalized learning option from March 1st. But increasing cases and outbreaks have caused concern, at least at the high school level.

Whitmer and Khaldun also called on youth sports to voluntarily suspend games and practices for two weeks.

“We also recommend that all youth sports – both contact and non-contact – interrupt both practices and competitions for two weeks,” Khaldun said.

Whitmer was asked why restrictions – specifically youth sports – are recommended and not mandatory.

“We now know that we have the tools we need to protect ourselves, and that it is less than a policy problem we have, and more than a compliance problem and variants we face as a state, “Whitmer said.

She said policy changes alone are not enough to change the tide.

“We need everyone to act and take personal responsibility here,” Whitmer said. “So I do not take any options off the table, but at the moment we strongly urge public schools and youth sports to act voluntarily.”

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Restaurants may remain open with a capacity of 50%, but officials are asking Michiganders not to eat within the next two weeks.

“We strongly urge restaurants and eateries to be smart and eat or pick up outdoors,” Whitmer said. “We know what works.”

“Just because something is open does not mean it is safe or that you have to do it,” Khaldun said.

They said it is risky inside-one-home meals because it brings people from different households together in an environment where they take off their masks.

“Infectious diseases and public health experts across the country were very clear that indoor dining is one of the most dangerous things you can do during this pandemic,” Khaldun said. ‘With the numbers we see now, we simply do not recommend it. You must pick up, order a drive-through service or eat outside. My family orders go down several times a week.

The state recommends avoiding gatherings with people from other households altogether, but if there are gatherings, officials want people to wear masks.

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“These are very difficult things to do, and we do not take these recommendations lightly,” Khaldun said. “But everyone needs to understand that if we can interrupt some of these activities only temporarily, it will help a lot to prevent the spread of the virus and save lives.”

The governor specifically asked Michiganders not to “meet with friends indoors for two weeks.”

“You have to avoid meetings with multiple households, and if you have a meeting, it should be small,” Khaldun added. ‘It has to be outside, and people have to wear a mask. You need to be tested if you are exposed, especially if you have just returned from a spring break. Let your test. ”