News Story

Whitmer Cites COVID-19 Pockets To Delay Reopening State

Statewide, new cases and deaths lower this week than previous week

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has delayed the day when the state of Michigan may advance to the fifth stage of her six-stage reopening plan. She cited concerns about the spread of COVID-19 in some pockets of the state as the reason.

The most commonly cited statewide statistics, deaths and new cases, do not appear to support Whitmer’s concerns that Michigan overall is experiencing a spike in coronavirus cases.

According to the state’s own data, Michigan has seen 702 new coronavirus cases and 39 additional deaths from June 16 through June 23.

The previous week (from June 8 through June 15), the state had 925 new COVID-19 cases and 73 additional deaths.

Whitmer made her statements June 23 in an interview with WJBK-TV. She said her decision to delay the next stage of reopening was based in part on an increased number of cases in the Lansing area. She cited in particular a local bar that had not been practicing social distancing, as evidenced by social media posts.

From June 16-23, Ingham County had 34 new cases of coronavirus and no new deaths. In the week before that (June 8-15), Ingham County had 12 new cases and one death.

Editor's note: This article was clarified after publication.

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.