The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has issued new coronavirus-related restrictions that would potentially punish violators with jail time.
The updated restrictions come as COVID-19 cases spike worldwide, an unsurprising development as the Northern Hemisphere plunges into fall and winter is around the corner. The U.S. set multiple records for daily new cases last week.
That is because the Michigan Supreme Court ruled last month that Whitmer's direct COVID-related executive orders were "an unlawful delegation of legislative power to the executive branch in violation of the Michigan Constitution."
In response, Whitmer vowed to bypass the high court's ruling to implement her will via "alternative sources of authority."
"Today's Supreme Court ruling, handed down by a narrow majority of Republican justices, is deeply disappointing, and I vehemently disagree with the court's interpretation of the Michigan Constitution," Whitmer said after the ruling, according to MLive.com.
"It is important to note that this ruling does not take effect for at least 21 days, and until then, my emergency declaration and orders retain the force of law," she continued. "Furthermore, after 21 days, many of the responsive measures I have put in place to control the spread of the virus will continue under alternative sources of authority that were not at issue in today's ruling."
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