Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer addressed the press today with an update on the Stay Home, Stay Safe order and other matters related to COVID-19.
Gov. Whitmer began by extending a happy Easter and Passover to all residents, realizing this is a unique & challenging time, and hopes everyone is finding other ways to reach out to loved ones as we navigate how to celebrate Easter and Passover rather than gathering together physically.
Due to overwhelming unemployment request levels, the UIA has quadrupled staffing levels, and extended call center hours by an hour every day 8am-6pm M-F, Sat 7am-2pm.
There are now 21,504 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Michigan and 1,076 fatalities. There is early data showing that the growth rate may be starting to slow down, but there is still a shortage on testing.
With 89% of Michigan’s hospital’s reporting, as of yesterday, there were 3,826 inpatients with COVID-19, 1,628 of which were in critical care and 1,434 on ventilators. 786 were discharged from Emergency Departments with confirmed or suspected COVID-19.
This said, Governor Whitmer announced that she has signed an Executive Order to extend and expand the Stay Home, Stay Safe order through April 30th. “Now is not the time to pull back at all, it is the time to intensify,” says Whitmer. People may still leave the house for outdoor activities like hiking, running, walking, or other recreational activities as long as social distancing is still adhered to.
Stricter limits will be placed on stores, which some are already doing. Any large store must limit the number of people in the store to no more than 4 customers for every 1,000 square feet of customer floor space. Smaller stores must restrict to 25% of normal occupancy limits. Stores will also have to place marks on the floor for customers to stay 6 feet from one another. Stores are all encouraged to limit customers to the minimum extent possible, including requesting that only 1 family member per household shop at a time. Large stores must also close areas of the store that are dedicated to carpeting, flooring, furniture, garden centers, plant nurseries, or paint. Governor Whitmer does not mince words when she stresses that if you are not buying essential food or medicine, you should not be out shopping.
In response to the fact that COVID-19 is affecting African-American communities in much higher percentages, Governor Whitmer announced the formation of the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities to research and tackle this issue. More to come on this task force.
To view the Executive Order, click here.
