LANSING (WWJ) - While California's governor has issued a statewide "stay home" order, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer says she's not even close to issuing a shelter-in-place order or lockdown of the state.
"There's no plans to have a shelter in place order. There's no talk of any of that in my office," Whitmer said live on WWJ Newsradio Friday morning.
As of Thursday afternoon, the official statewide count for Michigan is at 334 confirmed cases, including three deaths. The next update is at 2 p.m. Friday.
"We've got a lot of labs that are contributing to the processing of tests and we have too few tests and so the numbers always have to be looked at with that in mind, that we're not testing as many people as we would like to be," Whitmer said. "When we release (the updated number), it's out of date almost immediately."
California's governor on Thursday ordered the state's 40 million residents to stay home indefinitely and venture outside only for essential jobs, errands and and some exercise -- all with proper social distancing.
While Whitmer said she couldn't comment on California's situation, she said she's going to continue to make decisions based on facts and science, not fear and "replicating what everyone else is doing without understanding whether or not it's necessary."
"I am speaking with and listening to the best medical experts that we have so that I'm making decisions swiftly," she said. "We've got to be aggressive here to flatten the curve, to mitigate how many people die from COVID-19 and to mitigate how long our economy suffers as a result of it."
The lack of testing supplies and other personal protection equipment from the federal government has be admittedly frustrating, Whitmer said, but there is no lack of inspiration among problem solvers in Michigan, such as using possible prison labor to manufacture items like face masks.
"We're getting incredibly creative working with the private sector," she said."We've got craft brewers who are now making hand sanitizer, the Department of Corrections is exploring whether or not we can fabricate some things, because I know that we've got a lot of people that want to chip in and do some good right now in this tough time."
Efforts are also being made across the state to stock hospitals, bring back retired health care workers and allow medical students to help during the crisis, Whitmer said, adding that "we've got to support these superheroes who walk among us every single day and are showing up to care for others."
Whitmer urged all Michiganders to stay vigilant but remain even-headed as they hear and read updates on the pandemic.
"I know we're all stressed. Trust me, life has changed for every person in this state and certainly the hardship that people are feeling is real. But I want to make sure that people keep their wits about them and seek out real, accurate information instead of amplifying the anxiety that everyone already is feeling," she said.
Whitmer said ultimately, it is up to each and every one of us to stop the spread of the virus.
"It's incumbent on everyone of us to take this seriously, to practice the CDC recommendations for hygiene, to make sure we abide by the orders that are being issued," she said.
This is a rapidly evolving situation. Stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 where we will remain live, local and committed to bringing you the latest information during this outbreak. >>LISTEN LIVE!
