Whitmer does not extend order
Governor: Too early to know if three-week pause was a success
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said on Tuesday it’s too early to know if the three-week pause in Michigan to curtail the spread of COVID-19 has been successful.
She did not extend the order from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services which was enacted Nov. 18 and expires on Dec. 8, but it could happen next week.
That order banned indoor dining at restaurants; shut down all high school sports; prohibited face-to-face learning in high schools and colleges; closed movie theaters, stadiums, arenas, ice rinks and more.
“At this point in time it’s really too early to say precisely where we will be in a few days much less next week,’’ Whitmer said. “We’ve not predetermined
with the positivity rate declining as well over the past week,’’ Dr. Khaldun said.
Test positivity is now at 13 percent, down from 14 pergoing to be driven by where cent on Nov. 16. In comparwe see the numbers, we have ison, the positivity rate was modeling calls and we’re 3.9 percent on Oct. 15 and getting up-to-date informahovered around 3 percent tion and so as we continue for much of the summer. to monitor the numbers “We’re cautiously optiwe’re going to also continue mistic based on what we’re to center our work around seeing. More people started keeping people safe.’’ doing the right thing toward
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the the beginning of November,’’ chief medical executive of Dr. Khaldun said. “That the Michigan Department means wearing masks, not of Health and Human Sergathering and maintaining vices, said that the overall 6 feet of distance from othcoronavirus case rate is at ers. We think that is contrib608 cases per million people uting to the decrease in the and has been declining for rate of rise of cases.’’ the past week. All regions in She did say it will be two the state have seen a decline to three weeks before the in cases over the past 7-15 effects of Thanksgiving getdays. However, case rates togethers show in the numbers.remainabove500casesper million people for all areas hen asked directly, of the state except for the Whitmer would not give Traverse City region where specific numbers on what it’s lower. it would take to reopen res
“Test positivity is also taurants. showing slight improvement She did say that positiv
ity rate and the burden on hospitals are two important metrics. Currently 4,200 patients with COVID-19 are filling about 20 percent of the hospital beds in the state.
Whitmer said the order focuses on places where people are indoors and from multiple households.
“I challenge you to think about even a 10-percent full restaurant and what that means in terms of how many households are represented there and (everyone is) inherently unmasked because people are eating,’’ Whitmer said. “Unfortunately (those are) all of the different ingredients for a higher risk situation and that’s why we’ve tried to do this strategically.’’
Frustrated restaurant owners have been vocal about the shutdowns that are significantly hurting business and putting many out of work.
Indoor dining was banned starting on March 16 early in the pandemic
and lasted through June 8. At that point it was limited to 50-percent capacity which remained in effect until the order on Nov. 18. Outdoor dining and take-outs are allowed.
“I want these restaurants to succeed. I want to do everything in my power to help them through these tough times,’’ Whitmer said. “That’s what I’ve asked our legislature to get this $100 million plan passed. That’s why I’ve been asking our federal government to take some action, but since they haven’t I’m hoping our legislature will work with me on this to give some relief to these restaurants.
“I don’t want them to have to make tough awful decisions that could jeopardize their work force and their customers. I want them to be successful and I know they need help,’’ she added.
Whitmer anticipates to make a decision on whether to extend the order early next week.