Michigan governor, health chief provide update on state’s COVID-19 response

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun hold a news conference on COVID-19 on April 6, 2020. (WDIV)

The Michigan governor and health chief held a news conference Monday morning to address the state’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

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Whitmer signed executive order 2020-37 Sunday, renewing restrictions on entry into care facilities and juvenile justice facilities the governor issued on March 14, 2020 until May 3, 2020.

The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan rose to 15,718 as of Sunday, including 617 deaths, state officials report.

Also over the weekend, White House coronavirus team’s response coordinator, Dr. Deborah Birx, said Metro Detroit -- specifically Wayne and Oakland counties -- could hit its peak in the next six or seven days.

About 80% of confirmed cases in Michigan are in Metro Detroit with Detroit becoming a national hot spot that the White House is keeping a close eye on.

The White House said FEMA is sending 300 ventilators and a surge of PPE to Michigan as models suggest a peak in coronavirus cases soon.

Citing models from the University of Washington, the White House predicts the per-day-death-total will peak on April 11 with 173.