Republicans question vaccine-only metric for reopening steps
DAVID EGGERT, Associated Press
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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer receives her second dose of Pfizer s COVID-19 vaccine from Dr. Joneigh Khaldun at DeVos Place on Thursday, April 29, 2021, in Grand Rapids, Mich. (Hope Davison/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)Hope Davison/AP
LANSING, Mich. (AP) Republican legislative leaders on Friday welcomed Gov. Gretchen Whitmer s metric-based approach to further relaxing coronavirus restrictions, but they questioned what will happen if Michigan s COVID-19 vaccination rate falls below targets.
Their comments came a day after the Democratic governor announced four benchmarks that will trigger additional economic reopening when 55%, 60%, 65% and 70% of people ages 16 and up get at least one shot. About half have done so to date. The state, where the seven-day infection rate remains highest in the U.S. but is dropping, now needs at least two of every five unvaccinated
Republicans question vaccine-only metric for reopening steps
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Republicans question vaccine-only metric for reopening steps
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If all goes well, Whitmer said, Michigan could hit its first benchmark meaning that 55 percent of eligible Michiganders have received their first dose in seven to ten days, with restrictions that would start to lift two weeks after that, before the end of May. Eleven of Michigan’s 83 counties have already met that goal; 19 others, though, remain below 40 percent.
Workers can return to the office and other job sites two weeks after 55 percent of Michiganders, or 4.4 million residents, receive their first doses. This would relax a Whitmer administration rule that employees work remotely when feasible.
Restaurant and bar curfews will be lifted, indoor capacity at sports stadiums, conferences, banquets, funeral homes, now set at different levels, will increase to 25 percent, and capacity limits at gyms will increase from 30 percent to 50 percent two weeks after 60 percent of Michiganders, or 4.9 million residents, receive their first doses.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer outlined a plan that ties specific vaccination levels to rolling back COVID-19 restrictions during a press event Thursday morning.
The announcement mirrors the state s goal of vaccinating 70% of all Michigander s 16 and older, but comes as Michigan continues to grapple with the nation s worst pandemic outbreak.
“On our path to vaccinating 70% of Michiganders 16 and up, we can take steps to gradually get back to normal while keeping people safe, Whitmer said in a statement. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to rise to the challenge and be a part of the solution so we can continue our economic recovery and have the summer we all crave.”