Western Upper Peninsula counties are seeing an influx of individuals seeking shelter from areas with significant COVID-19 community spread, or returning from travel outside of the counties covered by the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department, Health Officer Cathryn Beer stated in an April 6 release. These counties are Baraga, Gogebic, Keweenaw and Ontonagon.

“The increased population to the area places a substantial strain on our communities as travelers seek supplies, such as groceries and toiletries,” Beer said, “as well as potentially needing healthcare in the event they become sick.”

During this public health crisis, many rural communities may not be equipped with personnel, supplies or resources for a surge in population, Beer warned.

“While we understand the desire to seek shelter in our communities with fewer COVID-19 cases,” said Beer, “this potentially poses an unnecessary risk to all our residents of the Western Upper Peninsula.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, on March 23, signed the Stay Home, Stay Safe Executive Order, directing all Michigan businesses and operations to temporarily suspend in-person operations that are not necessary to sustain or protect life. The order, however is much more sweeping than that.

The order also directs Michiganders to stay in their homes unless they are a part of that critical infrastructure workforce, engaged in an outdoor activity, or performing tasks necessary to the health and safety of themselves or their family, like going to the hospital or grocery store. Under the order, individuals may only leave their home or place of residence under very limited circumstances, and they must adhere to social distancing measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when they do so, including remaining at least six feet from people from outside the individual’s household to the extent feasible under the circumstances. Limited circumstances do not include leaving fleeing an area with significant COVID-19 community spread.

Due to the number of Michigan residents continuing to ignore the stay-at-home order, the state has had to increase penalties on violators. Previously, violations of Whitmer’s executive order — which called on all Michigan residents to stay at home for three weeks, except to conduct “essential” business — was a misdemeanor punishable by $500 and up to 90 days in jail. But last Thursday, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services director Robert Gordon issued an Emergency Order setting a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for violations of the order. Criminal penalties for violation will remain an option for prosecutors.

“A person can have coronavirus without knowing it,” Gordon said. “They can spread the disease to others who can spread it to others. The only way to stop the spread is social distancing. A civil penalty and potential licensing actions send a strong message to Michiganders that social distancing is essential to saving lives.”

According to a release from the MDHHS on April 2, law enforcement agencies across the state are authorized to investigate potential violations of Executive Orders 2020-11, 2020-20 and 2020-21, and coordinating as necessary with their local health departments to enforce this Emergency Order within their jurisdiction. Law enforcement is specifically authorized to bar access to businesses and operations that fail to comply with the procedures and restrictions outlined in the Executive Orders. County prosecutors are authorized to enforce this Emergency Order to control the epidemic and protect the public health in coordination with the appropriate local law enforcement authority and, as necessary, the local health department.

Michigan is not the only state with rules like these in place at this point in time.

On March 20, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a shelter-in-place order for residents across the state in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus. The order took effect at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 21.

Wisconsin Public Radio reported on Monday, March 23, that on the following Tuesday, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers was to issue a “stay-at-home” order that could temporarily close more businesses in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.

Wisconsin Public Radio reported on March 23 that Evers tweeted: “People across our state are still out and about unnecessarily that are putting our friends, our neighbors, and our communities at risk. Please #StayHome and help us save lives.”

On March 27, Lt. Nick Roberts of the Houghton City Police told the Daily Mining Gazette that he has also heard that heard that people are coming to the area from downstate to protect themselves. He said that his department had received a call recently from a local resident, saying he had friends coming to the area, had reserved a hotel room, and were coming from out of the area to go snowmobiling.

“No. No. You’re not. You can’t do that right now,” he said. “And they’re from out of state, too. No. Stay home. It’s not vacation time. It’s not snowmobile time.”