LANSING, MI (WTVB) – As schools continue to draft plans to reopen this fall, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer warned Wednesday that if residents don’t mask up, the state could move backwards in the MI Safe Start Plan.
At a press briefing in Lansing, Whitmer said “If the majority of us mask up, if all of us mask up, every kid will be in school this fall,” Whitmer said during a public briefing on the state’s COVID-19 response. “If everyone masks up, we’ll see our numbers plummet and our economy get stronger. We’ll move the whole state into Stage 5.”
Six out the eight regions the Governor established in her MI Safe Start Plan are in Phase 4 right now, but Whitmer said that status is threatened by the growing rate of new cases of coronavirus.
Michigan Wednesday saw the highest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases since May 14. During her briefing, Whitmer discussed that increase, specifically the growth in cases in West Michigan. Kalamazoo exceeded 20 cases per million per day, and Grand Rapids exceeded 40 cases per million, she said.
“That means the requirement that people wear face masks is really important, to get a handle on these numbers and push them down again,” Whitmer said. “We’ve seen what can happen if people wear them, and what can happen if they don’t.”
The majority of school districts in Michigan are scheduled to start classes September 8, but a growing number, almost a third right now, are supposed to begin before Labor Day in August.
Under an Executive Order that went into effect Monday, everyone is required to wear a mask or face covering in public indoor spaces, and in crowded outdoor spaces. The order also requires businesses that are open to the public to refuse entry and service to individuals who fail to comply.
There are exemptions for those who are younger than 5 years old, those who cannot medically tolerate a face covering, and those who are eating or drinking while seated at a restaurant.
More information can always be found at michigan.gov/coronavirus.
