Livestream: Whitmer Talks Growing Coronavirus Cases In Michigan

MICHIGAN — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is holding a news conference Thursday where she is expected to discuss the growing number of coronavirus cases in Michigan, a day after new safety restrictions aiming to prevent the spread of the virus took effect.

The news conference, scheduled to begin at 3:15 p.m., will be live streamed here via the governor's official Facebook page.

Whitmer is expected to be joined at the news conference by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun and small business leaders who will talk about the steps they are taking to protect against COVID-19, according to a news release.

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Coronavirus cases have been on the rise in Michigan, which has reported nearly 278,000 confirmed cases of the respiratory illness and 8,190 deaths attributed to it.

To counter the recent surge in cases, Whitmer, along with state health officials such as Khaldun, announced Sunday new restrictions ahead of Thanksgiving. The restrictions, which include capping indoor residential gatherings to people from no more than two households and limiting outdoor gatherings to 25 people, took effect Wednesday and continue until Dec. 8.

The restrictions have been controversial, with some Michigan Republican officials calling for Whitmer to be impeached. Other Republican officials, however, said this week that would not be considered.

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This article originally appeared on the Detroit Patch