Whitmer Wants Legislature To Pass Statewide Mask Law

CLICK BELOW TO HEAR THE GOVERNOR DISCUSS MASKS

Governor Gretchen Whitmer held a news conference Thursday afternoon amid what she called “alarming” coronavirus numbers in Michigan.

Whitmer used most of the press conference to implore Michigan residents to wear a mask, and to avoid social gatherings, especially indoors. The governor said several times that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services epidemic rules requiring masks is the law of the land. But she called on the Republican-led legislature to pass a mask law that would put it into statute.

“It would send a powerful message that we’re all in this together, and that in a bipartisan way, we are taking the politics out of wearing masks,” she said. “Mask wearing could not be more critical than it is now. Our numbers are climbing. Wearing a mask is the law in Michigan. But something this important, this critical to saving lives, deserves the legislature’s stamp of approval.”

The GOP leadership in both the House and Senate have shown no inclination to pass such a law requiring masks.

Whitmer continued to blame the Oct. 2 Michigan Supreme Court ruling that threw out her executive orders for the rising cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. She said that the ruling had “muddied the waters” and “caused confusion” in Michigan.

Later, however, in response to a reporter’s question, Whitmer said that she has heard from business leaders that Michigan’s mask compliance is better than in other states where those companies also do business.

The governor was also asked if she would have the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issue a Stay-at Home Order, as happened back in March. Whitmer replied that we know more about the virus now, have better therapeutics, and the hospital systems have the PPE that they need.

“If things keep going like this, and the numbers don’t go down, we may have to take more aggressive measures,” Whitmer said, wearing a mask throughout the 27-minute press conference, even while she was speaking. “But I’m not announcing anything like that today, and the MDHHS has no announcement on that either.”

The governor said that the health systems are at risk of being overrun if “we all don’t do our part and take care of each other”.

Of particular concern is the Upper Peninsula, where the cases-per-million people are above 500, the highest in the state, according to Dr. Joneigh Khaldun with the MDHHS.

Then governor cannot issue a State of Emergency, and impose restrictions on individuals and businesses, due to the Supreme Court ruling. But she has instructed the MDHHS to do so, using a 1918 Spanish Flu-era law that was not covered by the Court ruling which said that Whitmer had exceeded her authority.

The MDHHS has placed limits on the size of gatherings indoors, and Whitmer said people should reconsider their plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

“I’m a person who enjoys having a big gathering of family and friends, watching football, and having a meal at Thanksgiving,” Whitmer said. “I’m not going to do that this year. And we also should think about whether we will have intergenerational gatherings with people we don’t live with. That’s how the virus is spread.”

Whitmer repeatedly said that “the simple act of wearing a mask is our most effective tool” in fighting the virus. When asked about compliance, the governor said that Michigan residents have let their guard down because they’re tired of dealing with the virus, and of wearing masks.

“I’m tired of it too,” she said, pointing at her mask. “But this is a deadly virus. If we don’t, we could have 100 people dying per day by the end of December.”

Whitmer also blamed “political rhetoric” for some people not wearing masks, as well as “misinformation” about whether masks are effective.

Earlier on Thursday, the governor signed six bills into law that the Michigan legislature passed, which largely mirrored some of the COVID-related orders that Whitmer had issued earlier this year.

Whitmer also used her press conference to call on President Trump and the “Lame duck” Congress to get together and quickly pass another stimulus package.