DETROIT – Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan provided an update on where he believes the city stands in the fight against COVID-19.
While Detroit’s COVID-19 numbers remain relatively low, Duggan said the surrounding suburbs and out-of-state areas are forcing the city to take immediate action.
READ: ‘3-week pause’: Michigan announces stricter COVID rules: What to know
Duggan said Detroit businesses are being shut down because of irresponsible behavior in the surrounding communities. Since late October, positive COVID-19 rates are skyrocketing in Oakland and Macomb Counties. The numbers in Detroit are low in comparison.
Oakland County officials said large gatherings, traveling sports teams and people not wearing masks are the reasons for their spike in cases.
Mark Hackel released a statement in response to Duggan’s COVID-19 update:
"Early on during this pandemic, the City of Detroit led the state in the number of COVID cases and deaths. At that time, no one within the region blamed Detroit for what they were going through. Rather, we all wanted to find ways to help the city, while at the same time, preparing for the spread of COVID-19 across the state.
To hear Mayor Duggan say that other municipalities within the region are not doing their part and acting irresponsibly based on recent statistics, and that Detroit is being punished as a result, is disappointing.
No one should be placing blame. We should be finding ways to continue helping one another. If we are truly ‘All in this together,’ then we need to display that by our words and actions.
We will continue to work with our business partners, schools, and residents by educating and informing them about what they can do to keep themselves and their families safe."
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Gov. Whitmer hopes Michiganders ‘double down so we can avoid a stay-home order’
While announcing the new MDHHS order for three weeks of stricter COVID-19 regulations, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she hopes residents follow the new laws to avoid another stay-at-home order.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is implementing a three-week statewide “pause” from Wednesday (Nov. 18) to Dec. 8 that will shut down indoor dining at restaurants, in-person classes at colleges and high schools, and much more.