Michigan lawmakers and organizations are reacting to the extension of the partial shutdown in Michigan until Dec. 20
Related: Gov. Whitmer announces partial shutdown extended until Dec. 20 due to COVID-19
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and MDHHS Director Robert Gordon announced the extension on Monday. It continues the suspension of indoor dining, high school and college in-person classes, movie theatres, casinos and more.
Related: Here are the COVID-19 metrics Michigan officials will monitor before safely reopening
Related: Read the full Michigan epidemic order extending partial shutdown until Dec. 20
Read the statements below.
Michigan Republican Party Chair Laura Cox
“Michigan businesses and families cannot withstand another shutdown, and I am calling on Governor Whitmer to reverse course and allow Michiganders the freedom to work, go to school, and be with their families during this holiday season. Instead of asking for $400 million dollars in aid, Whitmer should be removing the restrictions she imposed, that are causing the need for aid in the first place.”
Michigan Senator Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton)
“Gov. Whitmer has again continued the shutdown without providing small businesses the clear criteria or safety protocols necessary to reopen.
“We need to stay safe, yet people should have the opportunity to work and provide for their families. Watching small businesses continue to go bankrupt through no fault of their own is heartbreaking.”
Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association CEO Justin Winslow
“We aren’t surprised by the governor’s decision to extend Director Gordon’s MDHHS Order today, but we remain exceptionally disappointed. We firmly believe there is a better approach – one followed by 45 other states – that doesn’t use blunt force closure of a single industry to resolve a shared crisis. We maintain that a more nuanced approach that allows for limited indoor capacity with a curfew will result in greater compliance, better health outcomes and substantially reduced economic fallout.
Upon completion of this most recent Order, restaurant dining rooms will have been closed for 118 days, nearly one-third of the calendar year. We already know the impact of another extended shutdown will be significant, as the industry lost over $8 billion in sales and laid off more than 75 percent of its workforce when it was shuttered for an extended period in the spring.
The restaurant industry is comprised of creative and resilient individuals, but for a growing number of them, this latest pause is the cause of their lost livelihood and well-being.”
Michigan Health and Hospital Association CEO Brian Peters
"The MHA applauds the actions taken today by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to extend the COVID-19 emergency order. The chief medical officers of Michigan’s hospitals publicly expressed this morning the need to extend protections to preserve the viability of our healthcare system. While hospitalization numbers have started to stabilize, dozens of hospitals throughout the state are reporting critical staffing issues that impact the delivery of care for all patients – not just those needing COVID-19 care. We are thankful that our state’s leadership is responding to data and will continue strategic measures aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19.
It is still up to all Michiganders to do their part in our state’s response. Honor healthcare workers this holiday season by getting your flu shot and practicing the big three preventive measures: wear a mask, avoid social gatherings and practice proper hand hygiene. We are all in this together."
Michigan High School Athletic Association Director Mark Uyl
"We realize the crisis our medical caregivers and first responders are navigating and understand the need to continue the pause. However, the MHSAA had provided a detailed plan to both Governor Whitmer and MDHHS that would have completed fall tournaments with no spectators as safely as possible during the month of December along with allowing winter sport practices to resume. While we are disappointed in today's announcement, we will continue to look forward as we remain committed to play three sports seasons to their conclusion. The MHSAA Representative Council will meet on Wednesday of this week to chart out another plan for finishing Fall and restarting Winter."
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.
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