LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Michigan’s stay at home order is being extended, but some businesses will be able to get back to work.
On Thursday Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed another executive order extending Michigan’s Stay Home, Stay Safe order until May 28th while also allowing manufacturing workers to resume operations May 11. This includes the state’s Big 3 auto companies and all other parts of manufacturing.
In a written statement, the governor said, “This is good news for our state, our businesses, and our working families. We’re not out of the woods yet, but this is an important step forward on our MI Safe Start plan to re-engage our economy safely and responsibly. As we continue to phase in sectors of our economy, I will keep working around the clock to ensure our businesses adopt best practices to protect workers from the spread of COVID-19. When we all keep doing our part, we can reduce the risk of a second wave and re-engage our economy safely and responsibly.”
During her press briefing on Thursday Whitmer explained the six phases of this pandemic:
- UNCONTROLLED GROWTH: The increasing number of new cases every day, overwhelming our health systems.
- PERSISTENT SPREAD: Continue to see high case levels with concern about health system capacity.
- FLATTENING: The epidemic is no longer increasing and the health-system’s capacity is sufficient for current needs.
- IMPROVING: Cases, hospitalizations and deaths are clearly declining.
- CONTAINING: Continued case and death rate improvements, with outbreaks quickly contained.
- POST-PANDEMIC: Community spread not expected to return.
She says the state is on the third phase of the MI Safe Start Plan. The “flattening” phase shows that the number of cases are dropping and thus the state can reopen small parts of the economy.
Construction and real estate has already resumed work and manufacturing, which represents about 19% of the state’s economy, is next on the list.
In order to reopen, manufacturing facilities must adopt measures to protect their workers from the spread of COVID-19. “That includes conducting a daily entry screening protocol for workers and everyone else entering the facility, including a questionnaire covering symptoms and exposure to people with possible COVID-19, together with a temperature screening as soon as no-touch thermometers can be obtained. They must also create dedicated entry points at every facility, and suspend entry of all non-essential in-person visits, including tours,” according to her order.
Manufacturing companies also have to train their workers so they know the symptoms and how this virus is transmitted and use personal protective equipment while on the job.
The governor asked Michiganders to follow the “3 Ws:” Wear a mask, Wait 6 feet away from each other, Wash your hands.
“I’m asking you to mask up,” Whitmer said. She explained that this is how we can thank our essential workers while keeping the community safe.
The governor’s Stay Home, Stay Safe order remains in effect until May 28. Under this order, Michiganders still must not leave their homes except to run critical errands, to engage in safe outdoor activities, or to go to specified jobs.
“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. 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,” Whitmer said.
