Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Michigan Restrictions In Spotlight As Atlas Draws Rebukes For 'Reckless' Remark
AP: Michigan Governor Says She Has Authority For Stay-Home Order
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Monday she has the authority to issue a second stay-at-home order to curb the spiking coronavirus if necessary and called a comment by an adviser to President Donald Trump urging people to “rise up” against Michigan’s latest restrictions “incredibly reckless.” The Democratic governor spoke with Capitol reporters a day after announcing limits amid a surge of COVID-19 cases that has led to increased hospitalizations and deaths. Other Midwest states are facing similar second waves as the weather cools, and she has urged the public to “double down” with precautions to avoid a shelter-in-place order like what was instituted in the spring. (Eggert, 11/16)
Politico: Whitmer: Atlas’ Call For Michiganders To ‘Rise Up’ Against Covid Restrictions ‘Took My Breath Away’
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Monday that she was stunned by a call from one of President Donald Trump’s top coronavirus advisers for people in her state to “rise up” against new restrictions aimed at slowing the disease’s deadly surge. “It actually took my breath away, to tell you the truth,” Whitmer told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” referring to a tweet posted over the weekend by Scott Atlas, whose skepticism toward Covid-19 mitigation strategies has been the subject of widespread criticism. (Forgey, 11/16)
San Francisco Chronicle: Stanford Rebukes Scott Atlas Following His Controversial ‘Rise Up’ Tweet
Stanford University sought to distance itself Monday from Dr. Scott Atlas, a senior fellow at the university’s Hoover Institution and key member of President Trump’s coronavirus task force, a day after Atlas encouraged people to “rise up” in response to new pandemic-related restrictions implemented by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Dr. Atlas has expressed views that are inconsistent with the university’s approach in response to the pandemic,” the university said in a statement. “Dr. Atlas’s statements reflect his personal views, not those of the Hoover Institution or the university.” (Williams, 11/16)
The Hill: Fauci Distances Himself From Trump Adviser Atlas: 'I Totally Disagree With The Stand He Takes'
Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, once again distanced himself from a doctor advising the president on COVID-19, saying he “totally disagrees” with Scott Atlas. Atlas, a neuroradiologist with no training in infectious diseases, has taken to Twitter in recent days to rail against closures of some businesses and high schools in Michigan in response to COVID-19. (Hellmann, 11/16)
More on the Michigan measures —
Detroit Free Press: Detroit To Enforce New Michigan COVID-19 Restrictions, Provide Free Testing To Residents
Detroit officials Monday announced enforcement measures and additional protocol to the sweeping guidelines Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Sunday in an effort to curb rapidly climbing COVID-19 cases across the state and region. "The Midwest is absolutely covered in COVID," Mayor Mike Duggan said. (Abdel-Baqui, 11/16)
