(WWJ/AP) A local leader in northern Michigan is deeply troubled, saying activity in his community is similar to what's seen around the Fourth of July as people visit second homes and put older year-round residents at risk for the coronavirus.
James Janisse, village president in Elk Rapids, is urging Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to bar people from traveling back and forth to second homes.
Janisse, who said propane companies are "overwhelmed" with requests from property owners for fuel, is the latest official to express concern about a migration to northern Michigan from virus hot spots.
"At any other time, this would be cause for celebration, but right now it is not," he said in a Monday letter to Whitmer.
"People arriving here are not self-isolating. They are busy in our grocery and hardware stores and gas stations, increasing risk for our vulnerable population, in a county with no ICU beds and limited regional medical resources," Janisse said.
Whitmer has specifically stated that she does not want lower Michiganders heading Up North at this time; and that doing so violates her "Stay Home, Stay Safe" executive order.
In an interview with Fox 2 on Tuesday, the governor was asked about a mother-in-law who wanted to drive to her Northern Michigan property to take care of the lawn, etc.
"It's not essential, and she shouldn't go, and by going she will have to stop to get gas and touch a gas pump — that can hold on to COVID germs for 72 hours," Whitmer told the TV station. "Stopping to grab a bite to eat is more travel that is unnecessary for life sustaining activity. And so I would tell her as I've told my own husband, it's not permitted under the stay at home order. The grass will get unruly and we will tackle that when it's safe to do it. But right now it's not, and we need you to do your part and stay home."
This comes as the state health department is reporting at least 959 deaths related to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. The number of confirmed virus cases in Michigan had eclipsed 20,300 by Wednesday afternoon.
Whitmer on Wednesday confirmed that she will extend the "Stay Home" order; although she would not yet say how long. An announcement on the details is expected Thursday afternoon
While the order is currently set to expire after April 13, Whitmer said the virus is expected to peak in Michigan at the end of April or early May.
