Michigan businesses begin to reopen after months of closure. | Stock Photo
Michigan businesses begin to reopen after months of closure. | Stock Photo
Local businesses are starting to reopen with new guidelines in place to prevent COVID-19 from returning, Macomb Daily reported.
Numerous businesses are opening their doors again for the first time since March 23 when the stay-at-home order was enacted and are going the extra length to protect themselves and shoppers from a resurgence of the virus.
Some stores are holding limited hours so as to have a more frugal way to operate, while others chose to wait until June 12 to reopen, when both the state of emergency and stay-at-home orders had expired, according to Macomb Daily.
Some local malls have door openers and employees to give out masks and most stores are encouraging guests to be careful to socially distance while inside.
While some businesses are beginning to reopen, the state unemployment has hit Michigan hard with continuing jobless claims being above 900,000, Macomb Daily reported. While new jobless claims from the week of May 23 were 57,714 —well below the 388,554 claims from the week of April 4 — the continuing jobless claims signal that there are still hundreds of thousands of individuals without income.
For those who are in positions of leadership, returning to the new normal is uncharted territory.
Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said that the curve has been flattened for some time now but that even though the coronavirus has slowed significantly in the state, there are still strict requirements in place, which he finds frustrating.
“It’s very confusing as to what the criteria is,” Hackel told Macomb Daily. “We had to proceed with our reopening safely and our standards have far exceeded that. Why are we not focusing on the economy? What is it that is holding us back?”
As businesses do begin to start operating under a new normal, they will be attempting to adhere their operations to strict guidelines such as offering patrons hand sanitizer and masks for while they are inside.
Oakland County's government has been given grant money and is doling out that funding to local small businesses to help with the costs associated with hygiene kits.
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