State Rep. Joe Bellino today announced a regional, safety-focused approach to restarting Michigan’s economy and re-establishing a semblance of normalcy in the COVID-19 era.

House Republicans unveiled a blueprint on Monday 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.

“Our plan puts safety and public health first while also focusing on safe, practical steps to bring our economy back” said Bellino, of Monroe. “This pandemic has created a lot of fear and uncertainty – because of the virus itself and for our families concerned they won’t be able pay their bills or put food on the table because they’ve been laid off work.”

A task force – including 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 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.

“This plan is data-driven and will determine what is safe or unsafe for people throughout the state,” Bellino said. “It is my hope the governor accepts our plan as an opportunity to work with the Legislature in a bipartisan, collaborative way. It is the best bet at moving our state forward.”

###