An official with the White House Coronavirus Task Forces paid a visit to Michigan Wednesday to talk about the battle against the virus. Dr. Deborah Birx met with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.
Dr. Birx has been one of the leaders in the fight against the deadly coronavirus.
“Thank you for following the guidelines and the mandate and keeping your cases down,” Dr. Birx said. She's giving Michigan a pat on the back.
She visited the state to meet with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Mayor Duggan to discuss the area's coronavirus response and to help make sure the state is ready in case there is a second wave.
Dr. Birx said face coverings and social distancing are key in fighting the virus. The doctor expressed that she's is concerned about a spike in cases after Labor Day, as folks may gather during the holiday weekend.
“Crowded neighborhood events, including backyard barbecues, are currently one of the primary spreaders of virus,” she said.
During a meeting closed to the media, the governor told Dr. Birx it is important for Michigan to get more federal support to expand testing, especially for staff and patients at nursing homes as well as for prisoners and department of corrections staff.
Whitmer also talked to the doctor about her concerns after the CDC discouraged testing among people who didn’t show any symptoms even if they may have been exposed.
We asked Dr. Birx about her views on that and she says she talked to the CDC about reordering their guidelines, saying it’s important for asymptotic people to stop the spread.
“They need to know because they need to know not to pass the virus onto others,” Birx said.
She also said it’s important for schools and universities to have a testing strategy to help stop the spread. We are told three potential vaccines are in the final phases of trials.
But Dr. Birx says, until the numbers go down significantly she doesn’t want anyone to let their guard down.
“If you have been out and about you need to assume you have covid and if you visit grandma keep your mask on," Dr. Birx said.