Michigan Leaders: Issue an Indoor Mask Order
Governor Gretchen Whitmer; Elizabeth Hertel, Director, MDHHS; Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey; Jason Wentworth, Speaker, Michigan House of Representatives
As we head into the winter months, Michiganders are going to face unprecedented challenges as Omicron begins its rapid spread in Michigan. Our COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have hit record levels in the past few weeks. We need our leaders to do more to take the pressure off of our healthcare -workers and hospitals--relying on vaccination alone is not enough. Our leaders recognize the importance of a layered approach to mitigation. Wearing of high-quality masks is one of the most effective tools we have to slow the spread of COVID-19. We are calling on our leaders to set aside politics and act to keep Michiganders safer by issuing a temporary indoor mask order for all individuals while in a public establishment, including schools.
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To:
Governor Gretchen Whitmer; Elizabeth Hertel, Director, MDHHS; Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey; Jason Wentworth, Speaker, Michigan House of Representatives
From:
[Your Name]
January 10th, 2022
Omicron is quickly becoming the dominant strain worldwide. We urgently need our leaders to take measures to alleviate the strain on our already overburdened healthcare infrastructure. We are asking you to issue an indoor mask order for all individuals in all settings open to the public. An approach to Omicron must include efforts to increase vaccination, but this cannot be the entire strategy. Michigan has a population of almost ten million people. As of 1/10/22 only 2,417,113 Michiganders have received the booster shots that have been available for months. This is not enough to protect the residents of our state. You must do more.
We know masks work to reduce the spread of COVID-19. For almost two months, the MDHHS has had a mask advisory in place. Despite this, our cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have continued to rise.With Omicron we know that this number will increase exponentially. Our hospitals are in crisis and schools are closing. Nine states and Puerto Rico have mask orders in place. These ten states and territories issued indoor mask orders to help protect their citizens. How many more Michiganders need to be hospitalized or die before Michigan leadership acts?
The next weeks will bring record high infection levels. This small and temporary step could reduce cases and allow people time to get their booster shots or initiate vaccines. It will allow us to continue to work and shop in a safer environment. The MDHHS has been recommending a layered approach that includes vaccines and masking since the beginning of the pandemic. Until the vaccination/booster levels increase, or cases go down to manageable levels, our leaders must issue orders requiring masks in all indoor public spaces.