Just in time for the first full week of summer, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announces the end of a 15-month string of pandemic limits on businesses, schools and people.
"I have concluded that although the Covid-19 pandemic continues to constitute an epidemic in Michigan, certain protective measures and requirements can be lifted at this time," she says in a statement rescinding emergency orders as of next Tuesday. They were scheduled to end nine days later on July 1.
We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the medical experts & health professionals who stood on the front lines to keep us all safe, & we are incredibly thankful to all of the essential workers who kept our state moving.
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) June 17, 2021
Her administration now will focus on "utilizing federal relief funding in a smart, sustainable way as we put Michigan back to work and jumpstart our economy," a third tweet adds.
Whitmer lists these signs of statewide improvement this spring:
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Since the April 2021 peak, positivity rates, case rates, hospitalizations and deaths have decreased.
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The seven-day average case rate for Michigan has fallen by 96% to 24.3 cases per million through June 9.
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The rate of daily Covid cases detected is below 500 and continues to fall.
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As of Wednesday, 493 Michiganians are hospitalized with the virus, a decline of 87% since the mid-April 2021 peak.
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The seven-day average daily death rate through June 9 has declined by 75% to 1.9 deaths per million.
Among orders being lifted Tuesday are these from last fall affecting nursing homes, hospitals and juvenile lockups:
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Visitor restrictions for congregate care and juvenile justice facilities
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Mandatory testing for Department of Health and Human Services' juvenile justice facility staff
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Mandatory tests for Department of Health and Human Services hospitals and centers staff