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No New Covid Orders As HS Basketball Finals Underway; Whitmer Hopes MI Fully Open This Summer

Courtesy
/
Michigan Executive Office of the Governor
Governor Gretchen Whitmer speaks at Ford Field, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Detroit, Mich.

High school basketball finals are happening this week in Michigan. That’s despite the fact that the US Centers for Disease Control has recommended Michigan restrict indoor youth sports. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has other plans.    

The governor said Wednesday that tightening restrictions is not on the table right now, although she would not rule it out in the future. Instead, she said, the plan is to rely on people to do the right thing when it comes to masks, distancing, and getting vaccinated – and hope that beats how fast the coronavirus is spreading.

“That’s what we don’t know,” she said. “That’s why moving quickly and getting vaccinations up is our best way to keep that from happening and to resume normalcy.”    

Michigan reported 8,015 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday and 30 deaths. Michigan leads the nation in new cases per capita.     

Whitmer said Michigan could reopen fully as soon as this summer if the state hits the target of getting 70% of eligible people vaccinated.

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.
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