East Michigan News

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, during an address on Jan. 25, released new COVID-19 updates for the state of Michigan.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun and new MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel stood by Whitmer as she gave her update.

As of Feb. 4, COVID-19 cases have been on the rise, hitting 565,251 confirmed cases and 14,778 deaths, according to Michigan.gov. New cases are beginning to become stagnant, and deaths are starting to slow down.

There are 40,000 reported diagnostic tests per day on average with a weekly positivity rate of 6%, according to ClickonDetroit. Hospitalizations have been reducing over the past few weeks. 

As of Feb. 4, The New York Times and Wikipedia have attributed 26.6 million COVID-19 cases to the U.S., with a total of 451,000 deaths. Globally, there are 105 million confirmed cases with 2.28 million deaths. Over 58 million people have recovered from the virus.

Michiganders continue to face restrictions and epidemic orders issued by lawmakers and the state health department. Indoor gatherings are prohibited, except for 10 or fewer people from no more than two households. Outdoor gatherings are permitted for 25 or fewer people from a maximum of three households. Anyone who breaches these orders is subject to fines. 

Some Michigan residents feel that their freedoms are being restricted by the orders, and Michael Van Beek's commentary from Michigan Capitol Confidential clearly shows that he is one of them.

"Behind a podium and a microphone, Gov. Whitmer often tells Michiganders that limiting the effects of COVID-19 is all up to us, that we must all do our part and that our individual actions matter more than what any state order says. She’s not wrong when she says this, but it does suggest that voluntary compliance with state guidance should be the most appropriate approach. But the governor’s actual orders rely on the opposite: All that is not explicitly permitted is prohibited under penalty of law. That’s not trusting people to do the right thing, and it might be the source of the 'everything is closed' myth the governor would like to erase," Van Beek wrote in his op-ed.