COVID-19 cases have surged in Michigan since Oct. 2. | Photo courtesy of Unsplash
COVID-19 cases have surged in Michigan since Oct. 2. | Photo courtesy of Unsplash
In an article from Michigan Capitol Confidential, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's claims that COVID-19 cases began spiking on Oct. 2 following the highly contentious Michigan supreme court ruling that pandemic-related orders were unconstitutional are challenged, citing national trends.
According to data compiled by Worldometers.info, the number of global coronavirus cases surged at exactly the same time as Michigan, pointing to a wider cause outside of the realm of Michigan politics.
For example, Canada reported 2,124 new cases on Oct. 2 with an additional 5,468 cases by Nov. 29. Adding to the list, Russia as well as Italy saw an increase in the number of cases during the same period. Looking at the U.S. on a national level, this also appears to be the case with 52,381 new infections reported on Oct. 2. That number would go on to mushroom to 144,727 cases by Nov. 29.
Whitmer has not only blamed the supreme court but also citizens who refuse to follow health department guidelines.
“That’s why these next three weeks are so crucial,” Whitmer told reporters on Nov. 19. “We flattened the curve in the spring by listening to our public health and medical experts. We can do this again. You have the power to help us push this curve down. Every one of us has the power to make choices that will contribute to that. It’s going to take all of us working together.”
As Michigan Capitol Confidential alleges, the increase in cases on a global scale at exactly the same time could point to a wider issue beyond the purview of legislation and executive orders, raising questions of which path is the best way forward in combatting the pandemic.
Whether this will indeed prove to be the case remains to be seen. The U.S. is continuing to grapple with COVID-19 after a massive increase in cases throughout the fall.
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