Summary COVID restrictions Government Whitmer wants Michiganders to follow for 2 weeks

LANSING, Mich. – Last week, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer talked about the alarming rise of COVID-19 cases statewide and asked residents to voluntarily follow up on various restrictions over the next two weeks.

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

You can watch the full briefing starting April 9, 2021 in the video above

“We haven’t seen such a high level of positivity since our first wave last spring, a year ago, and that’s worrying because we’re doing a lot more tests than we did back then,” said Khaldun. “This indicates that there is now a wide community spread.”

The possibility of a new executive order is not being completely dismissed, but Whitmer said she believes Michiganders has the tools needed to slow the spread without additional action from MDHHS.

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

Whitmer asked Michigan high schools to return to distance learning for the next two weeks.

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

“Given where we are with our numbers, MDHHS recommends that all high schools take a two-week personal learning break,” said Khaldun. “Students and staff must also have themselves tested if they have 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 post-spring break testing. “

The state has asked all schools to offer a personal learning opportunity from March 1. But increasing cases and outbreaks have raised some concern, at least at the high school level.

Whitmer and Khaldun also called for youth sports to voluntarily suspend matches and training for two weeks.

“We also recommend that all youth sports – both contact and contactless – interrupt both practice and competition for two weeks,” said Khaldun.

Whitmer was asked why restrictions – especially for youth sports – are recommended and not made mandatory.

“We now know we have the tools we need to protect ourselves, and it’s less of a policy issue that we have, but more of a compliance and variance issue that we face as a state,” Whitmer said.

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

“We need everyone to act and take personal responsibility here,” Whitmer said. “So I’m not taking options off the table, but at this point we strongly urge public schools and youth sports to take voluntary action.”

Restaurants are allowed to stay open with a capacity of 50%, but officials are asking Michiganders not to eat inside for the next two weeks.

“We strongly urge restaurants and diners to be smart and eat outside or have takeout,” Whitmer said. “We know what works.”

“Just because something is open doesn’t mean it’s safe or you should do it,” Khaldun said.

They said indoor dining is risky because it brings people from different households together in an environment where they take off their masks.

“Infectious disease and public health experts across the country have made it clear that indoor dining is one of the most risky things you can do during this pandemic,” said Khaldun. “With the numbers we are seeing now, we simply do not recommend it. You need to pick up, order a drive-through service, or dine outside. My family orders takeout 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.

“These are very difficult things to do, and we are not taking these recommendations lightly,” said Khaldun. “But everyone needs to understand that if we can temporarily interrupt some of these activities, it will go a long way in preventing the spread of the virus and saving lives.”

In particular, the governor asked Michiganders to “not come in with friends for two weeks.”

“You should avoid multi-household gatherings, and if you have a gathering, it should be small,” added Khaldun. ‘It should be outside, and people should wear masks. You should get tested if you’ve been exposed, especially if you’ve just returned from spring break. Get tested. “

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