Few coronavirus cases, lots of land. Should northern Michigan reopen?

[TexasTowelie]

Draw a line across Michigan from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan, just above Bay City, and you may begin to understand Judi Schwalbach’s frustration.

The area north of that line includes 41 of Michigan’s 83 counties, more than half of the state’s land mass, but just 9.2 percent of the state’s population and less than 2 percent of the COVID-19 cases and deaths.

As of Sunday, the area had 635 of the state's 43,000 cases and 51 of more than 4,000 deaths.

Schwalbach and thousands of others who live in northern Michigan are following social-distancing rules, but see few cases of the virus, leading to anger that prompted some to descend on Lansing, most recently Thursday, to protest Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s economic restrictions during the pandemic.

Read more: https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/few-coronavirus-cases-lots-land-should-northern-michigan-reopen

[ret5hd]

1. I guess if they feel cheated out of their fare share.

[Newest Reality]

2. An ounce...

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. - Benjamin Franklin

[RGinNJ]

5. I'll smoke one of those

[keithbvadu2]

3. A good place for folks of the lower counties to visit for a few months.

A good place for folks of the lower counties to visit for a few months.

Relatively safe.

You want it opened up, eh?

[mr_lebowski]

4. One would think that opening up very low-population density areas first makes the most sense

From a safety standpoint.

But ... that plan also implies the minimum positive economic impact.

Also I'm pretty sure that the grown-up children we've been seeing in MI lately would throw an even bigger tantrum if only part of their state opened up.

Their not understanding simple math in the first place, plus the fact they want to bitch about anything Witmer does, pretty much guarantees that outcome.

[James48]

6. The only problem with that

Is there is a VERY small amount of hospital capacity I the event an outbreak happens.

The state classifies medical regions into 8 sections. Region 8 is the U.P. , and Region 7 is the western side from about traverse city, through Gaylord, and up to Cheboygan.

Region 7 had zero new cases yesterday, and region 8 Has had zero for three days! . But there are only about 50 ICU beds available In all of Region 7 and about 30 in Region 8.
In short, we’re ok, UNLESS there is a sudden surge.

Yes, we can reopen some of Michigan, but it MUST be slow amd methodical, and done carefully watching where the medical lines are, so that nothing is overwhelmed suddenly. ☣️