(WWJ) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is hoping to keep the National Guard on duty in Michigan through next spring.
Whitmer's office said Tuesday she has sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting an extension of Title 32 authority in order to use Michigan National Guard forces to combat the spread of COVID-19 through March 31, 2021 for COVID-19 response and vaccine related activities.
READ WHITMER'S LETTER TO PRESIDENT TRUMP.
Title 32 status, which provides for federal pay and benefits, is currently authorized by the President through December 31, 2020.
"The Michigan National Guard remains a crucial part of the state's emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Guard is vital to our ongoing recovery as well," said Whitmer, in a statement. "Michigan, as in many other states, is experiencing a marked incline in our COVID-19 positive cases across the state. To provide a thorough response, Michigan has been heavily relying on the Michigan National Guard's efforts to perform widespread testing and screening, distributing personal protective equipment, and assisting at numerous food banks across the state. That's why we need extended use of the Michigan National Guard through March 31, 2020."
There were 6,473 were new confirmed cases of COVID-19 recorded Michigan on Tuesday, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services -- the highest daily case count in the state since the pandemic began. There are also 84 new deaths to report, MDHHS said, bringing the totals to 223,277 cases and 7,724 deaths. Nearly 129,000 people infected in Michigan have recovered.
On Monday, Pfizer and BioNTech announced that they are accelerating the large-scale testing of vaccines that should provide Americans an added layer of immunity from the virus. In anticipation of rapid approval from the Food and Drug Administration, Michigan will look to the Michigan National Guard to provide logistical support and transportation support to help distribute the vaccine.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the state says Michigan National Guard members have helped distribute more than 14 million pounds of food at food banks, delivered tests and protective equipment across the state, and assisted with testing more than 200,000 Michiganders for COVID-19. The Guard is partnering with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and local health departments to offer COVID-19 testing, provide antigen training for health care practitioners, and to provide informational assistance in call centers.
Get the latest information about COVID-19 in Michigan at www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/.
