Michigan Gov. Warns New COVID Restrictions May be Imposed As State Sees Highest Case Surge Since May

Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday reported 610 new COVID-19 cases, marking the state's highest single-day case increase since mid-May.

The new cases were reported one day after Governor Gretchen Whitmer said she was open to rolling back the state's reopening plan if the state's case numbers continued rising.

"I would hate to think that the sacrifice that we've made could be made in vain because some people are losing interest or are dropping their guard," Whitmer told CNN on Tuesday. "We've got to double down right now—more than ever."

By Wednesday, July 8, state health officials said 67,237 confirmed cases and an additional 7,314 likely cases had been reported since the pandemic began. Whitmer, a Democrat, received national attention for the "stay home, stay safe" executive order she signed into law in March, which inspired weeks of protests at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing. Republican members of the state legislature even filed suit against Whitmer over the order, saying it violated state and federal laws.

After observing a decline in new case numbers in May, Michigan joined other states in slowly reopening its economy, all while Whitmer and state health officials encouraged residents to continue practicing social distancing and wear face coverings to prevent further spread of the virus.

Like many other states, Michigan recently began reporting a rise in infection numbers, though the state's new cases are still far below those reported in the handful of states that federal officials have identified as current virus hot spots. According to state health officials, nearly a quarter of the state's new cases in June were reported among patients in their 20s.

Whitmer responded to the data last week by closing indoor service at bars before the holiday weekend, joining governors in states like California, Texas and Florida in putting the brakes on social activities in which compliance with social distancing is difficult to maintain. Despite their orders, Independence Day celebrations held across the country earned reprimands from many government officials, including one party in Cass County that Whitmer said might result in legal charges for its organizers.

Looking ahead, Whitmer said it might be necessary to implement additional restrictions in the days ahead and said the opinions of her critics would not prevent any future steps she might take to battle the virus.

"We're going to continue to monitor the numbers. If they keep moving up, we're going to dial back if we have to," Whitmer said, adding that she was "prepared to take heat" for her future pandemic-related decisions, though she did not specify what form those restrictions might take.

"I'm not going to be bullied into moving before it's safe—and if we have to move back, we're gonna," the governor said.