Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addresses the MSU College Democrats on Sept. 18, 2018, at Wells Hall. State News file photo.
—Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-33 to formally declare a state of disaster on Wednesday, April 1. The statement was released on Wednesday evening.
In addition to issuing Executive Order 2020-33, Whitmer also sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield requesting a concurrent resolution extending this declared state of emergency and disaster under Executive Order 2020-33 by 70 days from the date of the resolution.
“To meet the steep, varied, and ongoing demands created by the COVID-19 pandemic, my administration must continue to use the full range of tools available to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our state and its residents. I welcome you and your colleagues’ continued partnership in fighting this pandemic,” Whitmer said in the letter.
Executive Order 2020-33 recognizes the expanded scope of economic, educational and civic dislocation caused by COVID-19, and equips the administration to fully address the devastation caused by the virus.
“Since Michigan announced our first confirmed cases of COVID-19 three weeks ago, we have taken some of the most aggressive measures in the country to mitigate the spread of the virus and protect Michigan families,” Whitmer said in a press release. “Today’s action will allow my administration to respond more effectively to every facet of this crisis. During this time, it’s crucial that Michiganders continue to stay home and keep their distance from others. We will get through this together.”
On March 10 Gov. Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-4, which declared a state of emergency in Michigan to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the press release, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Michigan has reached 9,334 confirmed cases in just three weeks. To date, 337 Michigan residents have died from COVID-19.
“The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan is still climbing, and we must continue to do everything we can to slow the spread,” said MDHHS, or Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Chief Deputy for Health and Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun in the release. “The governor has taken a number of critical steps to protect Michigan families, and this order today will allow that work to continue. I will keep working closely with the governor and our partners across state government to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”
The individual emergency orders, including Stay Home, Stay Safe order, expire at the time stated in each order, unless otherwise continued, according to the press release.
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