(WXYZ) – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday morning provided an update on the state’s response to COVID-19, announcing an expansion of capacity for outdoor stadiums.
He announced that outdoor stadiums could increase capacity by up to 20%, meaning some 8,200 fans will be able to be at Comerica Park to start the season.
Related: The state expands the capacity of outdoor stadiums up to 20% before the opening day
Whitmer also encourages everyone to get vaccinated when it’s their turn, as everyone over the age of 16 becomes vacant on April 5th.
Related: Detroit Tigers will welcome nearly 8,200 fans with necessary masks, pod seats and more rules
“You’ll have a summer, a fun summer ahead, if we can all get vaccinated. We can do it,” he said.
Dr. Khaldun said “very worrying data” show that the state is going in the wrong direction
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” he said.
Case rates in Michigan are now 173 cases per million and have been rising over the past four weeks. They have increased by 77% in all age groups, but those aged 10 to 19 have seen the largest increase.
Related: Michigan saw an increase in COVID-19 cases; The fifth highest rate in the U.S. last week
Related: The current rate of Michigan coronavirus cases is rising, it is now similar to last October
Earlier this week, the MDHHS said the Michigan case rate is now similar to mid-October last year, about a month before Michigan closed some things in mid-November.
Related: Officials warn Michigan may face another wave of COVID-19 cases
The state also has the second highest number of B.1.1.7. – the coronavirus variant of the United Kingdom – in the country.
There have been more than 13,000 new cases reported in the past week, according to state health officials. The state positivity rate is now 5.2%.
Michigan and Minnesota stand out in the Midwest to show peaks, while neighboring states are stagnating or watching a decline in new cases.
As cases increase, the state said more than 3 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered and that nearly 25% of Michiganders aged 16 and over have had at least one dose.
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