HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order Sunday to temporarily increase restrictions on price gouging.
Attorney General Dana Nessel said her office’s employees “have been working tirelessly” on the anti-gouging efforts. Police have at least 75 reports of gouging, including a case of one business marking up $1.00 products to $10.00.
The new, temporary, rule bars a business or individual from reselling product in Michigan at a price that is grossly in excess of the purchase price of products such as goods, materials, emergency supplies, and consumer food items.
Businesses or individuals also cannot sell any product in Michigan at a price that is more than 20 percent higher than what the business or individual offered or charged for the item as of March 9, 2020, unless the business or individual demonstrates that the price increase is attributable to an increase in the cost of bringing the product to market.
These new temporary rules go into effect at 9:00 a.m. Monday, March 16, 2020, and remain in effect through 11:59 p.m. April 13, 2020.
“We will continue to take every measure we can to mitigate the spread of coronavirus and protect Michigan families,” Governor Whitmer said in a statement emailed to media. “In these challenging times, we need to come together as Michiganders. This order will help protect consumers from price gouging. Additionally, I’m working jointly with the Attorney General to enforce these orders, to protect consumers, and to hold bad actors accountable. We will get through this together.”
State officials say that businesses who legitimately need to raise prices over production or other issues will have a change to prove that before facing any charges.
Patients with confirmed infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:
- FeverCoughShortness of breath
The best prevention for viruses, such as influenza, the common cold or COVID-19 is to:
- If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19, call your health care provider. If you do not have a health care provider, call the nearest hospital.
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- If you are sick, stay home, and avoid contact with others.
- Replace handshakes with elbow bumps or other alternative greetings that reduce or eliminate touching..
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others when in a public setting.
Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
To view executive order 2020-8, visit: EO 2020_8 Emergency Order .pdf
