FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 1, 2020

Media Contact: [email protected]

Governor Whitmer Signs Executive Order Expanding COVID-19 Emergency Declaration and Declaring State of Disaster

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-33, which recognizes the expanded scope of economic, educational, and civic dislocation caused by the COVID-19, and equips the administration to address fully the devastation caused by virus. The order also formally declares a state of disaster.

“Since Michigan announced our first confirmed cases of COVID-19 three weeks ago, we have taken some of the most aggressive measures in the country to mitigate the spread of the virus and protect Michigan families,” said Governor Whitmer. “Today’s action will allow my administration to respond more effectively to every facet of this crisis. During this time, it’s crucial that Michiganders continue to stay home and keep their distance from others. We will get through this together.”

“The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan is still climbing, and we must continue to do everything we can to slow the spread,” said MDHHS Chief Deputy for Health and Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun. “The governor has taken a number of critical steps to protect Michigan families, and this order today will allow that work to continue. I will keep working closely with the governor and our partners across state government to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”

In addition to issuing Executive Order 2020-33, Governor Whitmer sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield requesting a concurrent resolution extending this declared state of emergency and disaster under Executive Order 20-33 by 70 days from the date of the resolution.

In the letter, the governor stated, “To meet the steep, varied, and ongoing demands created by the COVID-19 pandemic, my administration must continue to use the full range of tools available to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our state and its residents. I welcome you and your colleagues’ continued partnership in fighting this pandemic.”

While the governor has multiple independent powers to address the challenges Michigan now faces, the powers invoked by Executive Order 2020-33 provide important protections and should remain a part the state’s ongoing efforts to combat this pandemic. The individual emergency orders, including Executive Order 2020-21 (Stay Home, Stay Safe), expire at the time stated in each order, unless otherwise continued.

On March 10, 2020, Governor Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-4, which declared a state of emergency in Michigan to address the COVID-19 pandemic. In just three weeks, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Michigan has reached 9,334 confirmed cases. To date, 337 Michiganders have died from COVID-19.

The governor has taken a number of aggressive measure to protect Michigan families from the spread of the virus, including ordering businesses that are not critical to sustain or protect life to temporarily suspend in-person operations, and directing all Michiganders to stay in their homes, with limited exceptions.

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

To view Executive Order 2020-33 and the Governor’s request to the legislature to extend the declared state of emergency and disaster, click the links below:

• EO 2020-33.pdf
• Letter, Gov. Whitmer to Speaker Chatfield and Leader Shirkey (4.1.20).pdf

Attorney General Nessel wanted to make sure subscribers saw this release, which was also to be issued through the State Emergency Operations Joint Information Center (JIC).

Media Contact:

Ryan Jarvi
(o) 517-335-7666 (c) 517-599-2746

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, April 1, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 1, 2020

Media Contact: [email protected]

Michigan National Guard supports Michigan’s COVID-19 response with support for FEMA medical station

DETROIT – Approximately 20 members of the Michigan National Guard will assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with logistics support to establish a Federal Medical Station (FMS) at TCF Center, March 31 – April 1.

Michigan National Guard members will augment FEMA, assisting with inventory of equipment and supplies as the FMS is established as an ad hoc site to receive COVID-19 cases during a period of surge demand. The FMS received by the State of Michigan supports the 1,000-bed alternate care site being established at the TCF Center in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“The State of Michigan is thankful for the sustaining presence of the men and women of the Michigan National Guard as we continue our work to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “The National Guard is a team of dedicated Michigan citizens invested as partners in navigating challenges that face our communities like COVID-19.”

“The decision to use the TCF Center for the Federal Medical Station is absolutely necessary to be protect the health of the residents of Michigan, said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “I fully support the Governor’s leadership on this initiative.”

On March 30, President Trump authorized the use of Michigan National Guard members under Title 32, United States Code, section 502(f), granting Governor Whitmer’s request for a formal Mission Assignment (MA) to allocate and order up to 3,000 members of the Michigan Army and Air National guard for up to 90 days to perform humanitarian missions across the state, such as helping run mobile screening facilities, distributing food and medical supplies, ensuring resiliency of supply lines and disinfecting public spaces.

“Today’s Michigan National Guard, with its two readiness centers and more than 300 members that reside in the city limits, is a proud member of the community,” said Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “The Michigan National Guard stands ready to support Detroit in its fight against COVID-19.”