(WWJ) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is offering a first look at what the gradual reopening of Michigan's economy will look like — as she asks for another extension of the State of Emergency.
While Whitmer stressed she will continue to be guided by data, "not artificial timelines," the governor announced Monday the she looking at allowing more businesses, closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, to restart in Michigan.
As part of what officials are calling the "MI Safe Start" program, construction is first on the list.
"The MI Safe Start will be incremental," the governor said, at a news conference Monday. "We'll start with workplace types that pose the least amount of risk. It's really important that we get this right."
"So the first will be additional outdoor enterprises that we feel pose low-risk," Whitmer said. "We'll also be looking at residential and commercial construction. That industry, for example, will be one of the first sectors to return to work."
As for precisely when this will happen, Whitmer said only that it will be in the "next week or two," adding that more specific information will be released, along with a timeline, in the coming days.
That is, the governor noted, only if coronavirus hospitalizations continue to drop and testing continues to rise.
In laying out the plan, the governor's team has separated the state into eight regions, or labor sheds, to better track workforce travel, as well as the state of the virus outbreak, and it's impact on local hospitals in each region.
The governor also announced she will ask the State Legislature to extend the State of Emergency in Michigan a further 28 days, which would stretch it through Memorial Day weekend.
The emergency declaration is slated to expire on Thursday. It would require approval from legislators to extend it, in order for Whitmer to continue using emergency powers granted under the order. (Note: This is different than the stay-home order, which is set to expire on May 15).
Looking ahead, Whitmer said she is hoping to work with Republican state legislators — who have been largely critical of her emergency orders — in further developing plans for reopening Michigan's economy. "It's better for everyone if we work together," she said.
The numbers show the pandemic curve is indeed flattening in Michigan; and the state's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joneigh Khaldun is "cautiously optimistic" that we are headed in the right direction.
"Statewide we are continuing to see an overall plateau in the number of cases of COVID-19 in Michigan," Khaldun said, at Monday's news conference. "We also know that people are beating this disease, which is really important."
Khaldun said, however, as Michigan continues to see more cases and deaths, it's important to continue to monitor and track the data, as officials look at incrementally opening the economy. "We want to make sure we're safe before doing additional things," she said.
Michigan on Monday recorded the lowest number of new cases in nearly a month. Take a look at the latest numbers from the state health department, including cases by county, HERE.
