by: WOODTV.com staff
LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) — During another state briefing Wednesday on the impact of COVID-19, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan’s chief medical executive Dr. Khaldun said that while data shows declines in the spread of coronavirus in Michigan, the process to reopen must remain slow and cautious to prevent a second wave.
Whitmer said during Wednesday's briefing, “If we drop our guard now, all of our sacrifice will have been in vain and we’ll be right where we were."
The governor also cited new data that shows more movement within the state, and at the same time urged residents to keep staying at home unless they must leave, reminding them that’s where they are safer. She said if there is a spike in cases in the next couple of weeks, she may have to continue her stay-at-home order for longer. The current order is in effect through May 28.
Health department officials said that data released by the state Wednesday afternoon, showed 40 more recorded deaths linked to coronavirus, bringing the total to 4,714. An additional 370 cases were confirmed for a state total of 48,391.
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said, “The number of cases per day per million people — which is how we measure it — continues to decline at the state level. However, not all regions are experiencing the same decline,. While we are seeing cases decline significantly in southeastern Michigan, this area if the state still has the highest daily numbers of deaths per million people compared to other regions of the state. We’re also seeing new case counts in western Michigan similar to those in southeast Michigan.”
Dr. Khaldun added that health departments are tracking clusters around the state and working to limit them.
In Kent County, two more deaths were reported, for a total of 47. It has 2,446 cases, 30 more than the day prior.
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