Why isn’t Whitmer focusing on stopping the spread of COVID-19 where her own administration says it is spreading the most?
July 30, 2020
Whitmer Shuts Down Bars, Limits Gatherings, Opens Casinos While Taking No Action To Stop Outbreaks In Nursing Homes
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed executive orders yesterday limiting indoor gatherings to 10 people and closing restaurants’ indoor service if they earn more than 70% of their income from alcohol. Simultaneously, Whitmer will allow Detroit’s major three casinos to open on Aug. 5.
But Whitmer has taken no action to stop COVID-19 in the places her own administration says are contributing to the most outbreaks in the state: nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Earlier this week, Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun confirmed that nursing homes and long term care facilities were the largest percentage of the outbreaks identified last week by local health departments. Watch:
SB 956 was passed by the Michigan legislature last week – with support from 19 Democrats – and would change Whitmer’s controversial nursing home policy created by executive order to protect Michigan’s most vulnerable residents. The bill was presented to Gov. Whitmer yesterday and awaits her decision. COVID-19 has contributed to over 2,000 nursing home deaths in Michigan.
Gov. Whitmer is neglecting nursing homes, the number one source of COVID-19 outbreaks, while taking more unilateral executive action to shut down some businesses and open others. Why isn’t Whitmer focusing on stopping the spread of COVID-19 where her own administration says it is spreading the most? – Tori Sachs, executive director of Michigan Rising Action.