Whitmer has apologized for the flap, which comes as she also faces criticism for her handling of a private plane trip to Florida in March that she took weeks to disclose.
“Throughout the pandemic, I’ve been committed to following public health protocols,” Whitmer said in a statement. “As more people arrived, the tables were pushed together. Because we were all vaccinated, we didn t stop to think about it. In retrospect, I should have thought about it. I am human. I made a mistake, and I apologize.”
Among the guests were Tricia Foster, the state’s chief operating officer, and Michigan State University trustee Renee Knake Jefferson. Foster faced criticism last month for posting photos on social media of herself visiting Florida, despite Whitmer’s warning against traveling.