(WWJ) There has been another extension of the stay-home order in Michigan.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Thursday she's extending the order through May 28, while easing it to allow automotive and other manufacturing workers to return to the job next Monday.
On Thursday, Whitmer signed Executive Orders 2020-73 and 2020-74, which extend two Executive Orders signed last month "to help protect the health and safety of all Michiganders during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic."
Whitmer says while the state is "not out of the woods yet," reopening factories is an important step forward to gradually reengaging the economy. Manufacturers can resume operations on Monday, which is key for suppliers ahead of automakers' planned May 18 restart.
As part of the governor's 'MI Safe Start' plan to re-engagement plan, plants must adopt measures to protect their workers, including daily entry screening and, once they are available, the use of no-touch thermometers.
“As we continue to flatten the COVID-19 curve, we must take all measures to avoid in-person contact and ensure we can transport front-line personnel and essential supplies quickly, efficiently and where they’re needed most,” Whitmer said. “These executive orders will help us slow further spread of this deadly disease and protect Michigan families.”
The governor says she's worked with leaders in health care, business, labor and education to develop the six-phase plan; saying Michigan is now in phase three.
The phases are described as:
1) UNCONTROLLED GROWTH: The increasing number of new cases every day, overwhelming our health systems.
2) PERSISTENT SPREAD: We continue to see high case levels with concern about health system capacity.
3) FLATTENING: The epidemic is no longer increasing and the health-system's capacity is sufficient for current needs.
4) IMPROVING: Cases, hospitalizations and deaths are clearly declining.
5) CONTAINING: Continued case and death rate improvements, with outbreaks quickly contained.
6) POST-PANDEMIC: Community spread not expected to return.
“I am working closely with health care experts and epidemiologists to closely monitor Michigan’s progress in the fight against COVID-19,” said Whitmer. “As we move forward with the MI Safe Start Plan, I am working closely with partners in business, labor, and education to determine the best way to move forward each day. All of us know the importance of getting people back to work and the economy moving again. We’ve already reopened lower-risk sectors like construction, manufacturing, and lawn care."
“The worst thing we can do is open up in a way that causes a second wave of infections and death, puts health care workers at further risk, and wipes out all the progress we've made," she added. "That's why we will continue to monitor the spread of this virus, hospital capacity, testing rates, and more as we work toward reaching the ‘improving’ phase.”
View a graphic recap of today's news conference HERE; or CLICK HERE to view the full MI Safe Start Plan (.pdf format)
At Thursday's conference, the governor said social distancing will continue to be key as Michigan's economy slowly reopens.
The new executive orders continue to temporarily allow e-signatures on official documents and remote notarizations to avoid unnecessary in-person contact, and continue to temporarily suspend licensing, decal and trip permit requirements used by the Department of Treasury to collect taxes owed by motor carriers.
They take effect immediately.