More protests scheduled in Lansing, masks in public mandatory

By Emma Palova

Lowell, MI – There is light at the end of the COVID-19 quarantine tunnel. After 48 days in the dark of the unknown, my husband Ludek returned back to his plastic injection molding job at Novaresc in Grand Rapids last week on May 11. Like for most, this was the longest time he has ever spent at home. He had to fill out a COVID-19 questionnaire and wear a mask. Other than that it was back to business as usual.

This was a major move ahead of the Detroit automakers starting back up today. The auto parts suppliers and tool and die shops, said they needed to get moving ahead of the auto plants.

However, it wasn’t until this Monday that Noveresc resumed full operation. According to Ludek, all scheduled workers showed up for work today at the plant.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s announcement was a major step forward in restarting the state’s economy from the coronavirus pandemic, after a state of emergency was declared in Michigan on March 10 and a stay-at-home order issued March 23.

However, Whitmer extended the stay-at-home order through May 28, which had been scheduled to end May 15.

Manufacturing accounts for about 19% of the state’s economy, and close to 5% is already operating because it was deemed essential, Whitmer said.

Whitmer said the worst thing to do is “open up in a way that causes a second wave of infections and death, puts health care workers at further risk, and wipes out all the progress we’ve made. That’s why we will continue to monitor the spread of this virus, hospital capacity, testing rates, and more as we work toward reaching the ‘improving’ phase.”

Wearing masks in public is now mandatory, as we await further words about reopening of the other major industries: restaurants and beauty salons.

We are now on Day 56 of the quarantine and more protests are scheduled in Lansing for this week.

I resumed my regular writing schedule, which, however, consists of rescheduling, delaying and maneuvering around cancelled author events.

Thank you health care and essential workers for keeping us alive and fed.

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The featured photo was taken before the quarantine.

Next: To wear or not to wear a mask, Quarantine projects completed

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