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High school students in Michigan will continue to learn from home until the Christmas break, under the extension of the pandemic order issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services yesterday.
Restrictions on gatherings and restaurant indoor dining will remain in place until at least December 20th. Yesterday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer outlined what officials will consider before taking the next step…
She again called on the legislature to allocate $100 million for assistance for families and small businesses, to extend unemployment benefits, and to endorse the existing mask requirement.
Reaction has been mixed.
Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association President and CEO Justin Winslow expressed disappointment that Whitmer had not been open to a compromise that might have reopened some restaurants. In a statement, he suggested that limited capacity and a curfew could have controlled potential spread in dining areas. The Association has pursued legal action against the restrictions, but has not been successful.
Whitmer said the research on that issue is clear…
The Michigan Nurses Association supported the move, with president Jamie Brown saying nurses are exhausted, and hospital systems are on the brink of being overwhelmed.
The Michigan Association of Non-Public Schools filed a lawsuit challenging the order yesterday. In a release, Executive Director Brian Broderick said the suspension of face-to-face high school activities is not supported by evidence of safety, and violates the First Amendment right to practice religion.
Meanwhile, the total number of confirmed cases in Michigan since the pandemic began has now passed 400,000 – that’s one of every 24 residents. 9,350 diagnoses were added to the total from yesterday and Sunday. The number of deaths statewide is expected to pass 10,000 today.
