Governor extends stay-home order, but allows boating, golfing, lawn care, travel between residencies
Motorized boating is once again allowed in Michigan, as long as the boaters practice social distancing.
From staff reports
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced this morning that she is extending the state’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order until May 15 in order to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The order was set to expire at the end of April.
However, she will ease restrictions on some activities that may make life, commerce and recreation easier on many northern Michiganders.
“Landscapers, lawn-service companies, and nurseries can return to work, subject to strict social distancing,” states an April 24 press release from the Governor’s office. “Retailers that do not sell necessary supplies may reopen for curbside pick-up and for delivery. Big box stores can reopen ‘closed areas’ like garden centers. And bike repair and maintenance can come back online.”
“At the same time, the order will ease up on some restrictions on members of the public. It will, for example, allow motorized boating and golf (but no golf carts), consistent with sound social distancing. It will also permit individuals to travel between their residences, though such travel during the epidemic is strongly discouraged. And it will clarify that state parks remain open, as they have been throughout the emergency.”
“We’re thrilled that we can re-open,” said GT Aylsworth of Glen Craft Marina on Big Glen Lake. “A lot of people who are up here want to go use their boats. It’s easy to get the boats out on the lake and avoid the crowds.”
Glen Craft will open on May 1, but will scale back some essential services this season such as boat repairs. Aylsworth confirmed that more than 30 customers are on the list for getting their boats in the water.
“We’ve missed sales during this (5-week) shutdown,” he said. “We’ve had new boats canceled that people were ready to order. I’d say we’ve had at least 40 percent fewer phone calls for boats.”
A major boat show in mid-March in Traverse City was also canceled, which Aylsworth said hurt sales.
The ban on motorized boating—whereas non-motorized boating was permitted—prompted confusion, some political blowback, and sparked four rural county sheriffs, including Leelanau Sheriff Mike Borkovich to issue a press release on April 15 stating that they would only selectively enforce the Governor’s social distancing executive order.
Whitmer stated today that social distancing measures in practice since mid-March are showing signs of working.
“Data shows that most Michiganders are doing their part by staying home and staying safe. That’s good, but we must keep it up. Social distancing is our best weapon to defeat this enemy,” said Whitmer. “With new COVID-19 cases leveling off, however, we are lifting some of the restrictions put in place in the previous order. I want to be crystal clear: the overarching message today is still the same. We must all do our part by staying home and staying safe as much as possible.”
The order today will also require Michiganders to wear homemade, non-medical grade face coverings when they enter enclosed public spaces. It will also require employers to provide at least cloth face coverings to their employees. People won’t have to wear face coverings when they’re taking a walk in the neighborhood, but when they go to the grocery store, they should be wearing one. Under the order, however, no one will be subject to criminal penalty for going without a mask.
