Great Lakes Wire

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently claimed that the lockdowns in Michigan are saving lives, but new research says otherwise, according to Michigan Capitol Confidential.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, Whitmer has insisted that her methods have made a dramatic difference in the number of coronavirus-related deaths in Michigan.

“The backlash that we’re getting is because we’ve gone to make sure that every measure is about saving people’s lives," Whitmer told CBS Detroit. "And we have largely had a lot of success. COVID-19 is still a very real threat.”

However, Michigan Capitol Confidential published an infographic showing that on April 9 -- after she restricted stores from selling carpet, paint and plants, among many other things -- coronavirus cases spiked significantly. However, when she lifted restrictions on April 24, the number of cases started going down. That is just one example from Michigan Daily COVID Deaths and Policy Actions.

In October, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued a mandatory mask order, requiring everyone to wear masks indoors or in places where social distancing isn't possible. Again, the death toll rose astronomically. Then, on December 9, with fewer restrictions in place, the number of deaths from the coronavirus started decreasing.