Protesters in cars jammed the streets in Lansing, Michigan’s capital, on Wednesday in opposition of the state’s stay at home order.
Named “Operation Gridlock,” the protest was organised by the conservative groups Michigan Conservative Coalition and Michigan Freedom Fund.
One protester, Tom Hughey, said: “I work at Ford Motor Company, and that shut down. I realise how important this virus is, but now we’re getting to the point where we’re shutting too much stuff down.”
The gridlock stretched for miles along the streets of Lansing, with vehicles honking their horns, as well as people protesting on foot.
Another protester, who works in healthcare, expressed her belief that only the sick and at risk should be forced to stay in, saying: “Restrictions should have been put on the people that are sick, that are coming down with the illness.” She added that those who are “at a lower risk” should be allowed to go back to work and continue with their normal lives.
The state of Michigan currently has the fourth-highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, reporting 28,059 infected people. It also has the third-highest death rate in the U.S.
A disproportionally high number of COVID-19 diagnoses and deaths are people who are Black or African American, with an estimated 33% of cases and 40% of deaths accounted for by this group as of April 8. However, only 14.1% of the state’s population is Black or African American, according to the U.S Census Bureau.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extended the state’s “Stay Home-Stay Safe” order last week until April 30, saying:
“We have a unique challenge here in Michigan, and it requires a unique solution. We have to be really aggressive here in order to save lives.”
Whitmer also made the decision to impose stricter restrictions on the residents of the state, banning most residents from going to another residence unless they are caring for a relative or dropping off a child.
In response to “Operation Gridlock,” Whitmer said: “There’s no cure, there’s no vaccine, it’s incredibly contagious and it’s deadly. The worst part is that you can carry it for a week without showing a symptom. Some people are completely asymptomatic. What could manifest in fever or sore muscles for one person in the household could be deadly for another. And that’s precisely why everyone needs to do their part.”
President Trump himself has attacked Whitmer, tweeting that “Gretchen ‘Half’ Whitmer is way in over her head, “doesn’t have a clue” and “likes blaming everyone for her own ineptitude.”
On Saturday, the governor announced plans to increase the state’s daily testing for coronavirus by roughly 40%, promising 13 new or expanded COVID-19 drive-thru testing sites around the state.
She said: “Better access to testing and quicker results are critical to our public health officials who are fighting coronavirus and to our residents who have symptoms of COVID-19 and need answers, treatment, and peace of mind. More testing will save lives.”
State health officials confirmed on Saturday that 433 Michigan residents had recovered from COVID-19, a significant increase on the number reported a week prior, which stood at 56.
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