(WXYZ) — COVID-19 case numbers trending downwards reflects that Michiganders are doing the right thing and taking the virus seriously, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in an interview with 7 Action News.
On Tuesday, Michigan reported its fewest new cases since September.
"I'm really proud of the work that's happening here in Michigan," Whitmer said. "Our numbers are incredibly low. Especially when you compare us to the rest of the country."
However, she said the key to Michigan's success is ramping up vaccines.
State health officials say that more than two million vaccines have been distributed in Michigan as of Monday and more than 1.3 million total doses have been administered.
"We have the capability of doing 50,000 a day," Whitmer said. "We actually had a day last week where we did 60,000 in one day."
As of Feb. 1, according to a survey from Carnegie Mellon University, these are the percentages of metro Detroiters willing to get the vaccine:
- Wayne County - 68.42%
- Oakland County - 79.27%
- Macomb County - 69.30%
- Washtenaw County - 88.69%
- Livingston County - 80.83%
Whitmer said progress in the fight also relies on funding. Federal dollars administered under the Trump administration still haven't been appropriated by the state Legislature.
"These are dollars for vaccines, dollars for education of our children, dollars for helping businesses that are struggling and of course dollars to help people that are struggling as well," she said.
Without the money doled out, Whitmer said Michigan runs the risk of falling behind in vaccine doses. She says the funding is badly needed to stay the course.
"We're still in the tunnel," she said. "There's light at the end of the tunnel. We're making great progress. But we all have to continue taking this seriously. Masking up, washing our hands, social distancing. We're making incredible progress, but if we continue to do that we'll stay protected in the interim and get through this together."
