Health

Virus news: Whitmer hears GOP gripes | Covid cases ease in Michigan | Auto insurance rebates

June 02, 2020, 5:13 PM

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Gretchen Whitmer earlier: "I'm not going to go toe-to-toe with you." (Photo: State of Michigan)

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urged a U.S. House subcommitte to support a Covid testing national strategy and propose billions more in federal pandemic help for states. Her Washington appearance Tuesday gave Republican representatives a pushback opportunity too inviting to bypass.

Members challenged the governor about her response to the virus, the Free Press reports. Critics cited new federal data showing that Michigan had 1,654 nursing home deaths as of May 24 -- fifth-highest among states and more than 200 above the number reported by Lansing officials.

"Why did it take you so long to change the policy ... of putting Covid patients back in nursing homes?" asked U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, a Michigan Republican from Tipton.

Whitmer said that in retrospect, there are "probably a number of decisions we would have made some adjustment on."


(Graphic: State of Michigan)

She replied curtly when asked about waiting until March 26 to seek federal disaster status. "I'm not going to go toe-to-toe with you on every allegation," the Democrat told Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va.

Flattening trend extends

June begins with continuation of a recent pattern of relatively fewer Covid cases and deaths.

Just under 200 new diagnoses since Monday are reported, compared to 851 four weeks earlier on May 2. Twenty-six deaths from the lung virus are reported in the past day, a number supplemented in the graphic at right by 11 earlier deaths belatedly identified as Covid-related.

Break for vehicle owners

Major auto insurers have credited policyholders with rebates or rate cuts because they're driving much less since March, and others now must do so. The state makes refunds or preminum waivers mandatory.

"Michiganders have been staying safe and staying home and they should see the benefit in reduced auto insurance rates during the Covid-19 pandemic," Whitmer says. "Every family is feeling added financial pressure due to this virus, and this order will provide some much-needed relief to drivers."

Companies have until June 10 to send information to the Department of Insurance and Financial Services that describes the refund or premium waiver. Customers will get details on how the amount was determined and how they'll get rebates or bill reductions.

Secretary of State branches reopen

Michigan Secretary of State offices reopened Monday, by appointment only and for only services that can't be handled online. Face masks must be worn, of course.



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