LANSING, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – “Very soon” turned out to be 24 hours.
During her latest “update regarding the state’s response efforts to COVID-19″ briefing on Wednesday, which was meant to a $5 billion commitment by Huntington Bank for help during the outbreak, Governor Whitmer repeatedly uttered those words when asked by reporters when asked about reopening gyms, pools, bowling alleys and skating rinks. These establishments had been closed since March, when the Governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order went into effect at the onset of the pandemic.
On Thursday, without the fanfare of a press briefing, Whitmer signed her 175th Executive Order of 2020, which reopened gyms and pools in “those regions were they remained closed.” The order takes effect this coming Wednesday, September 9th, and outlines “strict” workplace safety measures that these establishments must follow “to protect people from the spread of COVID 19.”
“Throughout this pandemic, we have followed the best science and data available to make decisions that will keep Michiganders safe, and our hard work is paying off,” the Governor said in the Thursday announcement of this latest Executive Order. “I urge everyone who plans to hit the gym after these orders go into effect to take these precautions seriously and do everything in their power to protect themselves and their families.”
As for bowling alleys, they can be open for leagues and competitive events, but no open bowling. Members of the Bowling Centers Association of Michigan staged a rally in Lansing last month asking for Whitmer to lift the ban, saying that they do have measures in place to safely reopen, and pointing to neighboring states where similar bans have already been lifted.
In support of the BCAM, the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association issued a statement on Thursday afternoon: “The governor’s new executive order is a step in the right direction, but it’s not enough to help struggling bowling alleys throughout the state,” said MLBA Executive Director Scott Ellis. “The MLBA worked with several bowling alleys to put together a safe plan for reopening to the public. This plan was sent to the governor. Many of these businesses cannot survive on league play alone. For many, it may not even be worth opening for those few short hours.”
The ban on opening movie theaters and performance venues still stands.
In addition, although the state Department of Health and Human Services “recommends against contact sports at this time, defined to mean those sports involving more than occasional and fleeting contact, including football, basketball, and soccer,” the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Representative Council, in a special Thursday meeting, voted to reinstate all sports, including gridiron football, which was pushed back to the spring on August 14th.
Padded practices would begin next week, and the first games would be played with limited spectators on September 18-19. Schedules would begin with week four and run through week nine, meaning a six-game regular season for most schools. All schools would be welcomed into the state playoffs, set to begin on October 30-31. All Fall 2020 tournaments sponsored by the MHSAA for other sports will be conducted as previously scheduled.
In a statement, MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uhl said, “We are thankful for the opportunity for kids to get back on the field in all fall sports, and we appreciate Governor Whitmer providing that opportunity. We share the Governor’s priorities of putting health and safety first, and the COVID-19 guidance and protocols designed by the MHSAA at her request have led to the safe starts in all sports across the state.”
