(WWJ) When will Michigan restaurants be allowed to fully open? Or at least increase their capacity? We don't know just yet.
Questioned at a news conference, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she will make more announcements on reopenings "in the coming days," as the restaurant industry and Republicans continue to press her for a plan.
The governor's vague comments come as State Senator Jim Stamas says business owners and workers should know the data and thresholds being used to make decisions.
Restaurant owners were upset earlier in the month when the governor quietly extended 25% capacity limits through March.
On Wednesday, Whitmer denied any slight of hand.
"Well, I was a little surprised by the reaction, to tell you the truth," she said. "Anyone who's even just casually watched over the last 12 months knows we have a tendency to have about a three-week cadence. We make a change, see how it's going, watch the data, report on the data, make changes along the way."
Late last week, the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association released a proposed roadmap which called for complete reopening when the positivity rates are as low as they are now, at 3.5%.
It remains to be seen whether the governor will budge on the matter anytime soon. While Whitmer has said she is open to input on the matter, she continues to stress that decisions on capacity limits and the like will continue to be made through the health department, based on COVID-19 metrics and scientific data.
Also on the reopening front: A new report shows that 97% of school districts in Michigan will be back in-person by March 1, as Whitmer continues to stress the importance of face-to-face learning.
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While Michigan's COVID-19 numbers are looking better in recent weeks, the state's Chief Medical Executive says she's concerned that the testing rates have declined dramatically.
Dr. Joneigh Kalduhn is also concerned about the even more contagious B.1.1.7 variant which is spreading in Michigan.
She said there are now 314 cases of the mutated virus confirmed in Michiganders.
"This new varient could be the dominant one in the United States by the end of March," Kalduhn said, at Wednesday's briefing. This means that for every case of COVID-19, it's more likely that that person will infect others, if they have this new variant."
To avoid catching and spreading the variant, the rules are the same: Wear a mask in public, wash your hands often, avoid large social gatherings, and keep at least 6 feet away from people outside your own household.
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Going forward, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist said he is concerned that African-Americans have the lowest vaccination rate in the state.
While about 1.9 million people in all have so far received the vaccine, Gilchrist said tracking vaccinations by race as been difficult, and demographics have not been recorded for about 45% of the doses given out.
He said changes have now been made for better tracking, and those getting a shot are being asked to share their race.
The latest information on the coronavirus in Michigan, including about testing sites and vaccinations, can be found at michigan.gov/coronavirus/.
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