Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday announced a plan to tie the state’s reopening and lifting of restrictions to the rate at which residents get the COVID-19 vaccination jab.
The effort dubbed the “MI Vacc to Normal” plan lays out four milestones based on the rate of vaccinations against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. The state has a goal of vaccinating 70 percent of Michiganders 16 years and older.
“To facilitate this goal, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will base future epidemic order actions on four vaccination-based milestones that, once achieved, will enable Michigan to take a step toward normalcy,” Whitmer’s office announced in a statement.
Whitmer on Twitter encouraged people to sign up for their vaccine appointments and characterized the effort as a “pathway to gradually get back to normal.”
“Today, I announced the #MIVaccToNormalChallenge, a pathway to gradually get back to normal as we hit our vaccination targets and push toward our goal of vaccinating 70% of Michiganders ages 16 and older. Please, sign up for your vaccine appointment today. Let’s get it done.” pic.twitter.com/q7e4l2zdNR
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) April 29, 2021
“If you haven’t [been vaccinated] already, I encourage you to rise to the challenge and be a part of the solution so we can continue our economic recovery and have the summer we all crave,” the Democrat said in a statement.
Michigan has administered at least 6,657,997 doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Of the Michiganders 16 years and above, 48.8 percent have received at least one dose, and 35.9 percent have been fully vaccinated.
The state currently has a mask mandate and various capacity limits on indoor dining, gatherings, and entertainment venues. Gyms currently can open at 30 percent capacity, while dining venues, casinos, and other businesses have a 50 percent capacity limit, according to current rules (pdf) effective April 19 through May 24.
By BY MIMI NGUYEN LY
