Michigan Gov. Whitmer has left state three times during pandemic, including trip to see father

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who imposed some of the country's most severe COVID mandates, left the state several times during the pandemic to visit her elderly father with chronic illness.

Early in the pandemic, the Democratic governor prohibited travel, including between in-state residences and to vacation rentals. The mandate has been lifted, but the state still recommends against travel, according to MLive.com.

Michigan now has the worst COVID-19 surge in the country, compared to other states, including record hospitalizations. 

A Whitmer spokesperson on Monday confirmed the governor left the state more than a month ago to visit her father, after the trip was first reported by MIRS News.

The spokesperson said Whitmer has left Michigan three times in the past six months – for the inauguration, to assist her father and to visit with state National Guard troops. 

"All trips were very brief, two full days or less, closely followed public health guidelines, and were made when Michigan’s daily positivity rate was in the low single digits," the spokesperson said. 

Exactly when or where Whitmer traveled is unclear, but at an April 2020 press conference, she referenced her father being in Florida, MLive also reports. 

Whitmer’s father was fully vaccinated and the governor has never tested positive for COVID-19, the spokesperson also said.