The director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Robert Gordon, has announced his resignation, the Detroit Free Press reports.



Gordon did not share a reason for his departure.

The head of the department through the COVID-19 pandemic, Gordon had served in the position since he was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in January 2019.

In a Tweet, Gov. Whitmer thanked Gordon for his service and announced his predecessor, Elizabeth Hertel, who is currently the senior chief deputy director for administration within MDHHS.
 

According to a release, Gov. Whitmer said,

“Elizabeth Hertel has dedicated her career to protecting Michiganders’ public health, and she is uniquely prepared to lead MDHHS as we continue working together to end the COVID-19 pandemic. She has served across multiple administrations from both parties, and knows how to bring people together to get things done. In her service to the state, she has proven time and again that she will do everything in her power to ensure the health and safety of Michigan families everywhere. Ending the COVID-19 pandemic is going to take hard work and partnership between state government, businesses, and organizations across the state. I know that Elizabeth is ready and eager to start working with partners everywhere to get it done.”

Hertel said in a statement,

“As we work to ramp up distribution of the safe and effective COVID vaccine and end the pandemic, I am eager to work with Governor Whitmer and her administration to keep Michiganders safe and healthy. I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the department at this time. Michigan is faced with a crisis unlike any we have seen before, but our aggressive action against this virus is working. Let’s finish the job and end the COVID-19 pandemic once and for all.”

According to the Detroit Free Press, Whitmer's office says that Gordon's resignation has no impact on any health orders he signed. The final order he signed before his resignation allows indoor dining to resume with restrictions Feb. 1.

The below video from CBS Detroit shows Gordon speaking at a Sate of Michigan coronavirus briefing January 13, 2021.

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