A lack of clarity in exact specifics is once again leaving Michiganders confused.
May 8, 2020
Gov. Whitmer’s Stay Home Extension and Restart Plan Continues to Create Confusion
Over six weeks into Michigan’s stay home order, Gov. Whitmer extended the order to May 28 and finally presented a restart plan after many wondered when a plan for the future would come. This six-phase plan follows Whitmer’s regional announcement several days ago which WDIV noted, “did not provide a timeline for when businesses will reopen or which workplaces will be permitted to resume work.” The new plan continues Whitmer’s trend of not announcing specific metrics or goals.
Whitmer’s new six-phase plan allows the manufacturing sector to open, but leaves many small businesses, including those in the least impacted regions, closed indefinitely. WLNS reported, “Manufacturing companies open as small businesses stay closed.” The president of Michigan’s Small Business Association stated, “Many industries, they have no indication whatsoever, whether or not it’ll be another two weeks, or another two months, or another four or five months.”
Whitmer announced Michigan is currently in phase three of the plan. Yet, a lack of clarity in exact specifics is once again leaving Michiganders confused. For instance, the state can move to phase four when “the number of new cases and deaths has fallen for a period of time” but the plan does not define what that period of time is.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey tweeted:
MLive reporter Malachi Barrett tweeted:
It is also still unclear how the state will take on contact tracing after Whitmer abruptly canceled a no-bid contract that would have given democrat campaign vendors access to COVID-19 patients data. Yesterday, Whitmer listed contact tracing as a key to moving forward.
In addition, the Antrim County Prosecutor announced he had “no plans to enforce governor’s orders” because the state’s actions amid the pandemic have left people “confused, angry, and questioning the authority and actions of the government.”