Michigan not likely to tighten restrictions as virus surges in state

Michigan is unlikely to tighten coronavirus restrictions as virus infections increase in the state. 

Michigan has seen an increase in hospitalizations among young adults as restrictions have been eased on indoor dining, sports and other activities within recent months, according to The Associated Press.

The state has seen its seven-day average of new coronavirus cases increase by 122 percent, according to data compiled by The New York Times. The state recorded almost 5,000 new cases on March 24. 

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) on Thursday acknowledged during an event held by the Michigan Chronicle that while vaccinations have served to protect vulnerable populations and elderly citizens, the new threat to younger community members is “real.”

“It’s a stark reminder that this virus is still very real. It can come roaring back if we drop our guard,” Whitmer said, according to the outlet.

Despite the increase in coronavirus infections, Whitmer said she believes the new surge differs from the surge the Wolverine State saw last spring because high-risk populations have been vaccinated.

She also indicated that she does not plan to implement restrictions in the state as a result of increased infections, according to the AP.

The news from Whitmer comes almost one year after armed protesters demonstrated inside the state’s capitol building. Hundreds of people pushed their way inside the legislature to protest against the governor’s state of emergency amid the pandemic. 

The demonstrators hammered Whitmer over her strict stay-at-home policies at the time to blunt the spread of COVID-19. 

In May of last year, several state GOP lawmakers filed a suit against the governor for extending Michigan’s state of emergency, arguing that the leader was abusing her power. 

Dawn Misra, an epidemiology and biostatistics professor at Michigan State University, told AP that the surge was “worrisome.” 

“It’s very troublesome and very worrisome,” Misra said. “We’re doing a lot of things that lead to increases in risk. That’s where it’s coming from.” 

About 25 percent of Michigan’s population has been given at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, according to the Times’s data.