LANSING, MI -- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said the state needs more test kits to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Talking on Fox News Sunday, Whitmer outlined her “aggressive” approach to fighting the spread of the virus and said state leaders need more data to make educated decisions.

“There’s so much that we need to learn in such a short period of time and testing is a fundamental, crucial component of that,” Whitmer said Sunday, March 22.

Related: Sunday, March 22: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

The state is having to prioritize testing for those who are “medically vulnerable,” and that doesn’t offer enough data on the impact of the virus in Michigan, she said.

Whitmer appeared on multiple national television programs Sunday morning to talk about the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Since Michigan confirmed its first case 12 days ago, Whitmer has closed K-12 schools, restaurants, bars and other businesses and mandated that people don’t gather in groups of 50 or more.

“It’s really important that we’re taking this seriously and mitigating the spread or we will overwhelm our healthcare system and more people will lose their lives and our economy will suffer even longer,” Whitmer said on Fox. “So we’ve got to be aggressive now.”

Michigan currently has almost 800 cases confirmed and eight deaths related to the virus.

In an interview on ABC This Week, Whitmer criticized the federal government’s response to coronavirus and said states need personal protection equipment for healthcare workers.

“We need clear directive and guidance from the federal government,” Whitmer said. “Frankly, a patchwork strategy of each state doing what they can. We’re going to do it if we need to, but it would be nice to have a national strategy.

“Had the federal government really started focusing when it became clear that the whole world was going to be confronting this, we would be a stronger position right now," Whitmer said. “Lives will be lost because we weren’t prepared. Our economy will struggle longer because we didn’t take this seriously early enough as a country and there will be consequences to that.”

The state is continually analyzing the situation to determine what the next move will be, Whitmer said in response to a question about other governors mandating that the public stay home.

Whitmer said the number of cases will continue to rise “exponentially."

“We know that COVID-19 has infected a lot more people than just those who are being tested and testing positive,” Whitmer said. “In order to make decisions, we really need better data.

“We’re all building the airplane right now as we fly it,” Whitmer said. “We’re doing the best that we can. We are going to continue to be aggressive.”

PREVENTION TIPS

Michigan’s State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips:

What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases:

· Always cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.

· Stay home if you are sick and advise others to do the same.

· Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

· Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

· Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

· Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if soap and warm water are not available.

· Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces(computers, keyboards, desks, etc.).

· It’s not too late to get your flu shot! While the influenza vaccine does not protect against COVID-19 infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season.

Read all of MLive’s up-to-date coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

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