Michigan governor lays out phased, regional reopening plan

Michigan’s governor laid out a plan on Monday for the state to begin sending some residents back to work, though most nonessential businesses will remain closed.

The Detroit Free Press reported that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) announced at a press conference that her administration would allow construction workers to resume work at residential and commercial sites within the “next week or two,” while adding that officials were looking at industrial sectors as well.

The move is reportedly part of a multi-stage, regional effort the governor plans to implement that will allow certain sectors of Michigan’s economy in geographic areas and industries designated as lower-risk to resume normal operations in the weeks ahead.

“We are very hopeful that Gov. Whitmer will make the decision to begin restarting Michigan’s construction industry,” Kevin Koehler, president of a Michigan construction workers’ union, told the Free Press.

Whitmer has been one of the governors singled out by President Trump in recent weeks for criticism over her administration’s efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus and her own statements about the federal government’s response.

Defying a number of protesters who descended on the state capitol to protest her measures, Whitmer moved last week to extend Michigan’s stay-at-home order until May 15.