(WXYZ) — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and MDHHS Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun provided an update on the state's response to COVID-19 on Friday afternoon.
Whitmer discussed her plan to work with other Midwest governors to open economies.
"We are bound by our waters and our commitment to the people that we serve," she said.
Whitmer said the state will continue to work with experts and fact-based, data-driven approach to reopen the economy. She said her priority is to protect family and workers from the spread of COVID-19.
She said Michigan will continue to observe best practices when it comes to social distancing.
"This doesn't mean our economy is going to open all at once," Whitmer said. "It doesn't mean states will take the exact same steps."
She said officials are working together to make decisions that will prevent a new wave of COVID-19.
On Friday morning, Whitmer said she's hoping to have "some relaxing" of the coronavirus limitations by May 1.
Speaking to Good Morning America, Whitmer was responding to a question George Stephanopoulos asked about Ohio's governor – who said he hopes to start opening things back up by May 1.
"I do hope to have some relaxing come May 1, but it's two weeks away and the information and the data and our ability to test is changing so rapidly it's hard to tell precisely where we'll be in a week from now much less two," Whitmer said on Friday.
"We have a unique crisis that is playing out here and we need a unique solution," Whitmer said.
Also Thursday, Whitmer joined governors Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky who said they will work "in close coordination" to reopen the economy in the Midwest region.
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