Detroit City Wire

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced on Dec. 18 that she will be extending Michigan's bar and restaurant restrictions -- allowing only takeout, delivery or outdoor dining -- until Friday, Jan. 15.

High schools were allowed to go back to in-person learning, and movie theaters, bowling alleys and casinos were allowed to reopen with limitation beginning Monday of this week.

“We have shown we know what it takes to be successful. We’ve got to do everything we can to avoid a surge in cases after the holidays,” Whitmer told Bridge Michigan. “Just like we did for Thanksgiving. As I've said before, the health of our people and the health of our economy go hand in hand.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer | stock photo

The president of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, Justin Winslow, pointed out on Twitter that Michigan restaurants have been closed by Whitmer for a total of 143 days since the beginning of the pandemic.

If COVID-19 trends continue, Whitmer says that restrictions could begin to loosen up.

“If we substantially sustain our progress, we will seriously consider lifting protocol sooner. A lot depends on how the holidays go,” she said, according to Bridge Michigan. “The key is keeping the mask on."

Since Nov. 1, there have been 3,800 deaths in Michigan. COVID-19 has infected over 450,000 Michigan residents since the beginning of the pandemic and has been the cause of over 11,000 deaths in the state. It is the third-leading cause of death in 2020, behind perennial leaders heart disease and cancer.

Whitmer says that the state of Michigan isn't receiving the amount of vaccines that were expected, and feds are "slow-walking" the distribution.

“The bottleneck appears to be the White House. And I can't get an answer why,” she said, according to Bridge Michigan. Whitmer called but was not able to get a hold of the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar.

“And here's what I would ask if I could get them on the phone. Where are our doses? What is holding them up? When can we expect them?” she told Bridge Michigan. As many across the country are eager to receive the vaccine and put the pandemic behind them, these are common questions.