Michigan Governor’s Aide Takes Trip to Florida Amid COVID-19 Warnings

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addresses the state during a speech in Lansing, Mich., on March 2, 2021. Michigan Office of the Governor via AP

A top aide to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer traveled to Florida for spring break, posting photographs on Facebook from the trip.

Tricia Foster, the state’s chief operations officer, posted from the Florida Keys last week, according to social media screenshots obtained and published by Breitbart News. The pictures showed young people on the beach and by a pool, as well as Foster in a bar.

The official told followers who inquired about her son that he was “home with covid.”

A spokesperson for Whitmer told news outlets that Foster has been fully vaccinated against the CCP virus, which causes COVID-19.

The spokesperson called the story about the trip “a partisan attack,” adding, “Trish Foster is fully recovered from COVID and fully vaccinated.”

The officer of Whitmer, a Democrat, didn’t immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for more details.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines issued last week outline how fully vaccinated persons can travel without getting tested for COVID-19 or self-quarantining after exposure to a confirmed case.

But Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the agency, said in a briefing that “CDC is not recommending travel at this time due to the rising number of cases” across the nation.

Whitmer said at a press conference last week that traveling increases the spread of the virus.

“We know that increased mobility contributes to increase spread, and could fuel some outbreaks as people return back to Michigan,” she said.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the state’s top health official, urged people to socially distance and avoid gatherings, in addition to getting tested “if you’ve been exposed, especially if you just returned or will soon be returning from a spring break trip.”

It’s not possible to socially distance on airplanes.

On April 9, Whitmer described the entire state of Michigan as “a hot spot” and called for a range of voluntary actions from residents, including high schools shifting to virtual learning for two weeks after spring break. The state has recently seen sharp increases in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.