(WWJ) Michigan Gov. Whitmer says she's sent a letter to Republican lawmakers asking for a statewide mask mandate -- after signing half-a-dozen COVID-19 bills into law.
The governor says both cases and hospitalizations have dramatically increased since the State Supreme Court struck down her Emergency Orders, which included mandatory masks.
While the state health department has issued a mask mandate of its own, Whitmer believes it would beneficial if the Legislature passed a law requiring masks in indoors in public places, and outdoors during large gatherings.
"We've known for a long time that the single most important weapon that we have against this virus is the simple task of wearing a mask," Whitmer said. at a news conference Thursday.
"This is the law under epidemic order, but we do think it would be helpful to our health, our safety and our economy if it was codified in a bipartisan (manner by) the Legislature," she said.
Earlier in the day, Whitmer signed signed six bills that are part of the Legislature's new coronavirus legislation into law.
They are the following:
House Bill 6137 requires the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to publish publicly on the DHHS website certain data regarding COVID-19 and nursing homes. The bill requires updates from DHHS on its website weekly regarding certain COVID-19 metrics and visitation policies. It also requires the publishing of historic nursing home COVID-19 data. The historic data must be published by November 15, 2020 and future data will be updated weekly beginning November 15, 2020. The bill is tied barred with Senate Bill 1094 which was recently signed by the governor. The bill was sponsored by Representative Leslie Love, D-Detroit.
House Bill 6293 codifies in law certain expanded COVID-19 testing services that Governor Whitmer provided for through executive orders. This bill allows certain volunteers and workers to help with the COVID-19 testing process under the proper supervision of qualified licensees or local health departments until June 30, 2021. The bill was sponsored by Representative Graham Filler, R-DeWitt.
House Bill 6294-6297 together allow certain documents to be signed, witnessed and notarized electronically until December 31, 2020. The bills amend the Estates and Protected Individuals Code, the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act, and the Michigan Law on Notarial Acts, respectively. The bills have largely retroactive effect from April 30, 2020 and encourage the use of electronic signatures, witnesses, and records where available. The bills were sponsored by Representative Sarah Lightner, R-Springport.
This comes the same day Michigan recorded a new record daily number of coronavirus cases.
The Michigan Department of Heath and Human Services on Thursday announced 5,710 new cases and 21 deaths. This was the first time more than 5,000 cases have been reported in a single day.
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On Wednesday MDHHS reported 4,101 new confirmed cases of the virus, along with 19 new deaths -- the first time more than 4,000 were recorded in a day.
“Right now, Michigan is seeing a record number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, and these bills will help us protect each other as we continue to fight this virus,” Whitmer said. “COVID-19 is still a very real threat to our families, frontline workers, and small businesses, and I will continue to do everything in my power to save lives and will work with anyone who shares those goals.”
The health department says Michigan now has exceed 197,800 total confirmed cases and 7,400 deaths.
A total of 121,093 people who were infected in Michigan are now considered officially recovered, and the Michigan's positivity rate is now over 7%. [MORE UPDATED STATE STATS HERE]