Governor “sounding the alarm” as COVID rates increase across the state

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is warning Michigan residents of the potential for COVID-19 to spread out of control this fall and winter. As of Wednesday, the state is averaging 1,704 new cases per day – a rate that is higher than even the peak of the pandemic in April.

“We are in a dangerous moment, where there’s the possibility of it just becoming community spread that becomes out of control,” she said during a press conference on Wednesday. “We’re seeing that in a lot of our neighboring states. That’s what we’re trying to avoid.”

Whitmer was joined by the state’s chief medical executive, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun who dismissed the idea of herd immunity. Some people, including legislative leaders, have proposed herd immunity as a means to end the pandemic.

“Scientists estimate that up to 80% … would need to be immune in order for herd immunity to be a sufficient strategy right now to slow the spread of COVID-19. That would mean, according to national experts, that over 6 million additional people in Michigan would need to be infected, and an estimated 30,000 more people would need to die,” she said.

Khaldun echoed words shared by Kalamazoo County’s own health officials on Wednesday. Both are urging people to restrict unnecessary outings, such as social gatherings or going to the movies.

“Just because something is permitted does not mean that it’s a good idea,” she said.

You can read more on the Detroit Free Press.