President Donald Trump and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer spoke Tuesday to discuss the state’s ongoing needs for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Tuesday night, Whitmer spokesperson Tiffany Brown confirmed the two leaders spoke.
“The focus was on the importance of getting PPE and resources to Michigan for healthcare workers, slowing the spread of COVID-19, and protecting the people of Michigan,” Brown said.
The conversation comes after Trump approved Whitmer’s major disaster declaration request over the weekend.
Under the major disaster declaration, funding is now available for state, tribal, local governments and certain non-profit agencies for “emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for all areas in the State of Michigan impacted by COVID-19," per a White House statement.
It also allows funding for crisis counseling for affected individuals in Michigan.
Federal Emergency Management administrators will help coordinate recovery efforts.
The coronavirus pandemic has occasionally caused tension between the Democratic governor and Republican president.
In tweets and during press conferences, Trump has made reference to “the woman in Michigan” and expressed that Whitmer and other governors were not showing enough gratitude to the federal government. He also recently referred to her as “Half Whitmer” on Twitter.
Whitmer had previously said Michigan has had a difficult time obtaining important medical gear in a Friday interview with WWJ Newsradio, a claim several Republicans questioned. She later said in an interview with “Meet the Press” that she was making the observation that she is bidding against other states, but did not directly address if she felt Trump was punishing Michigan.
On Saturday morning, Whitmer said more than 112,000 N-95 masks had just arrived from the strategic national stockpile. On Tuesday, she announced on Twitter the state received 400 ventilators from the strategic national stockpile.
The total number of coronavirus cases reached 7,615 on Tuesday, March 31. A total of 259 people have died, according to the state’s daily update on coronavirus numbers.
A week ago today, the state reported a total of 1,791 cases and 24 deaths.
There have been more than 160,000 cases of the coronavirus and almost than 3,000 deaths in the United States.
CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS
In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.
Read all of MLive’s coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.
Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
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