LANSING, Mich. (WXYZ) — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the first steps to re-opening Michigan amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Called the MI Safe Start plan, it will "take into account the various sectors of our economy, geographic and work-place risk, as well as our public health ability and work-place protocols to mitigate the risk."
The plan will be incremental and start with workplace types that pose less risk, according to the state.
For example, the residential and commercial construction industries will likely be one of the first sectors to return to work.
Officials will continue to monitor the public health and measure success, with the state remaining nimble enough to pull back if a spike in coronavirus cases is seen.
Businesses will also have to adopt new safety practices and carefully monitor employees, follow social distancing and provide personal protective equipment. Employer retaliation against workers who stay home out of a health concern is barred.
Whitmer said they are carefully evaluating a number of industrial sectors for a re-start, and there will be a press conference at a future date to talk more about the plan.
Watch the news conference