Genesee News

Robert Gordon, director of Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), is a big believer in “the power of masks” to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Michigan Capitol Confidential reported.

Gordon cites masks as a reason he has not ordered another shutdown this fall as COVID-19 cases rise.

“We know so much more now than we did in March,” Gordon told Bridge Magazine. “We know about the power of masks, and that enables people to engage in a range of activities that weren’t possible then. So I do think we are better positioned by the science and by the experience to live more fully in a way that we couldn’t in March.”

When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a shutdown order March 23, Michigan’s seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases was 91.9 per million people. On Nov. 2, it was 235.5 cases per million, Michigan Capitol Confidential reported.

Since Gordon imposed a mask mandate Oct. 5, new cases have surged from 106.4 per million to 267 per million on Nov. 1, according to Michigan Capitol Confidential.

On Nov. 6, the rate was 261 cases per million, “more than double from last month,” the Department of Health said, according to Michigan.gov. “Percent positivity has increased to 7.5% from 5.5% a week ago. Hospitalizations, which tend to appear two to four weeks after cases, have been rising over the past five weeks.”

Michigan is facing a significant resurgence of COVID-19. There are 28 COVID-19 outbreaks in office settings, according to Michigan.gov.

“The number of new outbreaks reported continue to increase weekly,” Michigan.gov said. “Office settings make up 5% of all documented outbreaks and 7% of new outbreaks identified in the last week. Additionally, 8.3% of current outbreaks are in manufacturing and construction, and 33% of those were first identified in the last week.”