State Rep. Greg Markkanen said he supports a regional, safety-focused approach to restarting Michigan’s economy and re-establishing a semblance of normalcy in the COVID-19 era.

House Republicans today unveiled a blueprint to help move the state toward a rolling restart – an approach based on the prevalence and risk factors of the virus, which varies by region. A task force would be established to determine which counties could have some COVID-19 restrictions eased more quickly, getting more people back to work and more facets of everyday life – when it’s safe.

“Now that the number of COVID-19 cases has started to drop off, we need to have a well-thought-out plan in place to help people safely return to their normal lives,” said Markkanen, of Hancock. “The health and safety of our families, friends and neighbors remains top priority – that’s why it’s the centerpiece of our strategy.”

A task force – including the chief medical officer and other representatives from Gov. Whitmer’s administration, the Legislature and outside groups – would place counties into one of three tiers based on coronavirus activity and other factors such as hospitalization rates and capacity. Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties – which have the vast majority of COVID-19 cases in the state – would be in the tier with strictest restrictions. Other counties would be placed in tiers with fewer restrictions.

The same task force would help determine which jobs and activities could be resumed safely, starting from the premise of federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) guidelines, which in some cases are not as restrictive as the prohibitions now in place in Michigan. The task force would make frequent recommendations to the governor to reflect changes in coronavirus activity.

“I know the governor is in a difficult position, and I appreciate her efforts to protect people from COVID-19,” Markkanen said. “Unfortunately, some of her executive orders have been overly restrictive and prevented people from working and providing for their families – even when they could do so safely. It’s time to stop issuing one-size-fits-all restrictions and start taking a regional, safety-focused approach. Metro Detroit has been hit hardest by the virus, and I think we can all agree that it makes sense for people there to take stricter precautions for longer than families in the Upper Peninsula.”