In Michigan, the more than 5,500 deaths in long-term-care facilities account for a third of COVID deaths in the state — as far as we know, given lack of transparency from both Whitmer and the state Health Department.
Whitmer refused to back down for months from her initial executive order instructing nursing homes and other similar facilities to take on hospital patients with COVID-19. The governor was warned early on by the head of the state’s elder-care association not to do this, but she did so anyway. And she continued the misguided policy, despite several bipartisan attempts from the Michigan legislature to alter the mandate.
It wasn’t until late September that she changed course — and not until November that she signed legislation making it official.
Cuomo initially had a similar nursing-home policy to Whitmer’s, but notably altered his order in May 2020 after intense pushback. At least he was willing to acknowledge his error. Michigan’s governor refused to back down.
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