LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Governor Gretchen Whitmer is extending Michigan’s state of emergency during the coronavirus pandemic.
On Thursday, June 18 the governor signed another executive order allowing the emergency declaration to run until July 16. It was first set to expire on June 19.
The state of emergency is separate from the stay at home order. Michigan’s stay at home order has already expired, but the emergency declaration provides further protections for Michiganders, allows possible business closures, lets unemployment benefits continue, and other protection measures.
In a written statement Governor Whitmer said, “The aggressive measures we took at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic have worked to flatten the curve, but there is still more to be done to prevent a second wave. We owe it to the heroes on the front lines to keep doing our part by wearing a mask when in public and practicing social distancing. Now is not the time to get complacent. We must continue to stay vigilant and flexible in order to reduce the chance of a second wave.”
If COVID-19 cases continue to drop, more business reopenings could occur. The governor says she still hopes to move the rest of the state into phase five of the “MI Safe Start” plan by the 4th of July.
The latest coronavirus information and executive orders are available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
