Since the first positive coronavirus cases were discovered in the United States, governors across the country have made tough choices to protect their citizens. From the beginning, Democratic and Republican governors took action because the health and well-being of our families and neighbors are our No. 1 priority.
When it comes to fighting this virus, we are all on the same team. Right now, mankind has a common enemy, and it’s Covid-19.
Governors have made gut-wrenching decisions in the face of a threat unlike any we’ve seen before. We have had to close school buildings for the rest of the academic year and to direct small-business owners who have spent a lifetime building their businesses to close their doors. We’ve had to close restaurants, movie theaters and barbershops and to limit in-state travel.
I never imagined having to use the levers of my office this way to protect the people I serve. Each action taken weighs heavily on me. Each action has been informed by the best science and epidemiology counsel there is. These choices have been tough. They haven’t always been popular. And we will never know precisely how many lives were saved as a result.
America’s families have made tough choices, too. We’ve missed birthdays, weddings and holidays we usually spend together. We’re grieving the loss of our freedom, our jobs, our business and, in the worst case, a loved one. As a mom, I was really looking forward to my daughter’s high school graduation ceremony.
We’ve also made sacrifices that have taken a toll on our mental health. People are lonely and frustrated and would give anything for life to return to normal. And it will, as long as we all do our part.
Americans everywhere are eager to get back to “normal.” Trust me, we governors are, too.
But we need to get this right. That’s why I’m partnering with Govs. Mike DeWine of Ohio, Tony Evers of Wisconsin, Tim Walz of Minnesota, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Eric Holcomb of Indiana and Andy Beshear of Kentucky on a plan to reopen the economy across the Great Lakes region. Similar efforts are being led by governors on the West and East Coasts.
Here in the Great Lakes region, we have called upon experts in health care, business, labor and education to work on a data-driven approach to re-engaging our states in a responsible manner. Re-engaging our economies will be based on facts, science and mitigating risk to public health. Moving too soon or too fast could very likely lead to a second wave of Covid-19. This would be catastrophic for our families, our health care systems and our businesses.
During the flu pandemic of 1918, some cities lifted social-distancing measures too fast and too soon, and caused a second wave of cases. As a result, many cities were forced back to a quarantine posture for an even longer period of time.
We must be smart and take every precaution to avoid a second wave. We must work with other states, other regions and the federal government to get this right. We must remember that the enemy is not one another, it is the coronavirus, a threat unconstrained by state lines or party registration.
Re-engaging our economy won’t happen all at once. It will happen gradually. Over time, people will go back to work, restaurants will reopen and we will be able to spend time with our friends and loved ones.
The speed with which this happens depends on us. We must be responsible and thoughtful, and we must understand the science and rely on the data when we make decisions. That’s true both for leaders across the country and for people everywhere who must do their part by staying home and staying safe for these next couple of weeks.
The actions governors from both sides of the aisle have taken have saved lives and protected families from the spread of the virus — including leaders like Mr. DeWine, Laura Kelly in Kansas, Larry Hogan in Maryland, Andrew Cuomo in New York and Gavin Newsom in California. These governors and my colleagues in the Midwest have taken action to protect families, health care professionals and critical workers like grocery and child care workers. They have made tough choices because they knew keeping people safe was the right thing to do. I’m proud to be among their ranks.
It’s been said, “Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.”
We will get through this and defeat our common enemy, together.
Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, is the governor of Michigan.
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