Governor Gretchen Whitmer has extended the COVID-19 state of emergency through October 27th. As we hear from Rick Pluta, the governor also issued four new executive orders.
Michigan has been in a state of emergency since March 10th. And the governor said the emergency will continue as long as COVID poses a threat to public health and safety, as well as the state’s economy.
The governor also extended emergency orders that restrict entry into health care, residential, and juvenile justice facilities – with some limited exceptions. Also extended are protocols for jails and prisons, and requiring food stores to offer restricted shopping hours for people vulnerable to infection.
The governor’s action is not a surprise since she indicated the emergency would not be over when her most recent declaration expired this coming Thursday. The governor is facing multiple lawsuits over her exercising of emergency powers during the COVID-19 crisis.
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— Rick Pluta is the Managing Editor and Reporter for the Michigan Public Radio network. Contact WEMU News at734.487.3363 or email us at studio@wemu.org