Gov. Gretchen Whitmer likened the coronavirus vaccine rollout to a locomotive, which means it's bumpy and jarring and unpredictable at first. And that's the phase Michigan is in right now.
Speaking live on WWJ 950 to Tom Jordan and Roberta Jasina, the governor said residents should be proud of the state's efforts so far and optimistic that eventually everyone who wants a vaccine will be able to get one -- hopefully by the summer.
In the meantime, schools are supposed to have a plan to return to in-person learning by March 1 to battle the wave of kids troubled and depressed over being stuck at home for nearly a year. And Whitmer is convinced they can get there.
"That's why we prioritize teachers and vaccinations," Whitmer said, adding that some districts have stayed in-person throughout the pandemic and had a "great deal of success." "If the protocols are followed, we can do this," she said.
Isolation and depression have led to a wave of suicides in some areas, including Las Vegas, Nevada, where the New York Times reported "an early-warning system that monitors students’ mental health episodes has sent more than 3,100 alerts to district officials, raising alarms about suicidal thoughts, possible self-harm or cries for care." By December, 18 students in the Las Vegas district had taken their own lives.
In Michigan, more than 30,000 parents, coaches and students have joined a Facebook group dedicated to urging the governor to resume school sports as soon as possible. What does she think of that?
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"The variant in Washtenaw County is spreading like wildfire," she said, adding, "That's what we're trying to avoid." The variant has caused at least 14 infections in that area, and caused the University of Michigan to tell students they should shelter in place when they're not in a classroom, and avoid mingling.
Whitmer added that she's eager for sports to return, too, but "we've got to continue watching the numbers.
Returning the kids to the classroom is her priority, she said.
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