Governor Whitmer calls for in-person learning to resume by March 1

In a virtual press conference today Governor Whitmer called for in person classes to resume in all of the state’s schools no later than March 1st.  She says it won’t be required, but she’d like to see it happen. Reaction’s to the governor’s statement have been largely supportive with general agreement that in-person learning is best.  But some are equivocating about the plan saying it depends on whether it can be done safely.  The governor seems to be of the view that it can be done safely with or without vaccinations. Some districts have adopted criteria that could prevent a return by that date.  For example Ann Arbor Public Schools set metrics back in the summer that some say can’t be met by that date.

Meantime, the state’s daily batch of COVID-19 data looked fairly promising.  After a few days of up-trending new cases, today’s report had 3,625, down by almost 400, and 38 new deaths.  Average for new cases is 3,178 statewide, with 89 the average for deaths. In our region, there were 93 new cases and no new deaths. Averages are 68 new cases and one death a day. The total for active cases in the state is 127,344, down again, and for the region it is 2,344—also down, though not by a lot. So far the numbers don’t seem to be showing a post-holiday surge, but experts say we are not past the window where that could happen. 

Complete data for our region along with summaries for the state, our safe start zone and the UP are in the table below.