Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced on Sunday new wide-ranging restrictions to fight a surge of coronavirus cases and deaths in the state.
The announcement of new restrictions comes six weeks after the Michigan Supreme Court struck down the Emergency Powers of Governor Act of 1945 as unconstitutional, the tool she used to enact emergency orders in the spring and summer. The Republican Michigan legislation leaders have criticized the governor for taking action without their input, while continuing to take no action of their own, including a dismissal of a mask mandate.
Whitmer was asked about this criticism from Republicans during her Sunday evening press conferences announcing the changes. She said that she’s included the legislature in weekly calls and has urged them to make the mask mandate a law, which was ordered by MDHHS office.
She said when she asked Republican leaders for a plan, she said “there wasn’t one, other than doing some PSA’s.”
A House of Representatives session was cancelled on Thursday, and was later determined that four legislators had tested positive or were recovering from coronavirus. See AP
New restrictions are imposed through a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services order, will take effect Wednesday, will be in place for three weeks and are scheduled to end Dec. 8.
The state’s public health code allows the Michigan health department to “prohibit the gathering of people for any purpose” and to “establish procedures” to ensure the “continuation of essential public health services and enforcement of health laws.”
New policies will end in-class instruction for high school and college students, high school sports, indoor service at restaurants and bars, and the closure of theaters, bowling alleys and casinos. Things such as retail businesses, salons, barber shops, public transit, child-care centers, parks and health-care facilities are still open.
See sources Detroit News
