by:NEWS 8
LANSING, Mich. (WOOD TV) — Pointing to an uptick in cases and noting that many students will return to in-person instruction over the next month, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday extended Michigan’s coronavirus emergency through Sept. 4, enabling her to keep in place restrictions designed to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Data shows since nearly two months ago, the seven-day statewide average is up six-fold, to about 700 cases per day, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University. The rate of tests coming back positive also has trended higher since early June.
Whitmer added in a statement “I will continue to use every tool at my disposal to protect Michiganders from the spread of this virus,”
Whitmer as governor has now used the emergency declaration to issue orders to close certain businesses, limit gathering sizes, and require masks in enclosed public spaces and crowded outdoor places.
According to data released by the state Friday afternoon, Michigan on Thursday confirmed 762 additional cases of the virus. That brought thetotalnumber of cases to 86,191 since the outbreak began in March.
Data showed Kent County confirmed 52 new cases for a total of 6,772 since the outbreak began. It has had 154 deaths.
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