Gov. Gretchen Whitmer toldCNN's "Cuomo Prime Time" on Friday night that she wastightening restrictions again in parts of Michigan after a rise in COVID-19 cases to "nip this in the bud."

She told host Chris Cuomo that Michigan had, about two months ago,been among the few in the United States in line to contain the virus but since then, some residents have been lax in efforts to control the spread"and weve seen our numbers climb."

"I'mtying to nip this in the budso we dont have to contemplate going back to a shutdown orback a phase in our re-engagement plan," she said.

MORE: Whitmer vetoes bill directing COVID-19 patients away from nursing homes

Wednesday, the governorreimposed limits in the Upper Peninsula and 17 counties in northern Michigan, capping indoor gatherings at 10 people and closing indoor bars where alcohol accounts for 70% of sales restrictions already in force in the southern part of the state.

Michigan confirmed eight coronavirus deaths Friday and 734 new cases ofCOVID-19. The seven-day average of new cases grew to 726 through Friday, compared with an average of 577 a day for the previous seven-day period.The state's overall case tally reached 81,621 and the death count hit 6,199, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

State officials have recently cautioned about the rising cases in Michigan and urged residents to wear masks and practice social distancing so schools can reopen to in-person instruction in the fall.

"If want to have any shot ofgetting our kids safely back in school ... our actions today are going to dictate whether or not thats possible," Whitmer told Cuomo. "So thats why weve got totighten things up now."

When asked about the state's response in handling the pandemic, the governor said her administration is "letting the science and the facts dictate the decision making."

"When we see our numbers climb and we see the rate of positive cases climb,were doing more testing than ever. And thats a good thing," she said. "But we do see growth all across the state. And thats why its really important that we take action so we try to avoid this increase."

Whitmer also addressed the Clare County sheriff's Facebook post this week criticizing what he calledinconsistencies in herexecutive orders, and telling state officials to "stay in LANSING, and we will do what we will in FREE MICHIGAN!!"

"Its not popular with some, we know this," she said, but "thevast majority of people in this state are taking this seriously. Theyre doing the right thing."

Whitmer added: "I'm not going to bebullied into making decisions that I know jeopardize lives of the people that I serve. And so were going to stay tethered to the science. Were going to make decisions that are going to save peoples lives and hopefully keep this economy engaged. And it's on all of us. Every one one of us has a role to play. And if we drop our guard, then were going tojeopardizeall of the sacrifice that weve made to get us into this strong position."

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Whitmer on rising COVID-19 cases: 'Weve got to tighten things up' - The Detroit News