On the Closure and Shutdown of Non-Critical Aspects of the Economy

On the Closure and Shutdown of Non-Critical Aspects of the Economy https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_90705-522626--,00.html

I feel relieved that this action to gently shut down all parts of the state economy that are not required to sustain life. I intend to do my very best to minimize the risk of infection between any other person and myself.

That said...

The order contradicts both the U.S. Constitution and Michigan Constitution.

The order contradicts the U.S. Constitution Amendment 1 (broadly described as the freedom to move about if one believes it right and to communicate in any way one wants): Amendment V ("nor be deprived of ... liberty...); and Amendment IX. Those parts of the Order are not Constitutional and so there can be no penalties or reduction of liberty (freedom of movement).

Which is to say, people can not be detained or ticketed for speaking or for moving about as they will in public or on private property where they have permission to move and/or speak.

The order contradicts the Michigan Constitution Article I sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 23 and so those parts that contradict are also not in effect.

I've seen all this already plan out in Italy, whose news I've been following due to a recent trip there and return on March 4th, followed by a 14-day self-imposed home quarantine, during which no symptoms arose in the household.

At the moment in Italy, it has become necessary to move those needing respirators to different hospitals that have lesser caseloads but capacity, and this is after the hospitals basically quadrupled their capacity to provide beds and respirators.

https://www.repubblica.it/

All that said, for those who hope to minimize the burden on the health care providers of the State, is very understandable for the State to ask the people to maintain increased social distance, and minimizing the probability of contagion by touching any object that might harbor the virus; if any closer contact would lead to additional cases of the disease

COVID-19, especially if there is any reasonable likelihood that it result in use of the state's health care system. The same could be said about taking precautions when coming in contact with surfaces that may have been touched, breathed on, coughed on, sneezed on, or otherwise made into a potentially infected surface (fomite).

In our experience, we discovered the following fomites where precautions must be taken in advance:

Touching any part of an ATM machine as well as anything coming out of it, namely card, cash, receipt. Minimize risk by using a disposable rubber glove or wiping the surface down with a disinfectant first.

More examples include: gas pumps, hoses and nozzles; door handles; grocery carts and baskets (disinfectant wipes near the carts and baskets should be provided); recently restocked grocery store items and items which may have been touched, breathed, sneezed or coughed upon; narrow isles where two carts can not pass with six feet distance (Italy and others are determining a reasonable number of people to shop in each store, while the rest queue up outside); the checkout lane where

there is no possibility of maintaining a 6-foot radius from the cashier in front and the one in the lane behind (this can be addressed by opening only alternate lanes); the person following in the queue (which can be addressed by putting down tape on the floor at 6-foot intervals to indicate the queuing spaces); grocery bags (especially those brought in from home, that practice is well advised to be suspended for the time being; and even, if possible, the store bought bags (if it is practicable to just take the cart to the vehicle and put the items in the car), and the carry out service (if

available, in reminding them not to touch any part of the vehicle, unless they are needed to move heavy items). At stores where there are self-check out lines, there should also be such markings, and probably shutting down alternate registers.

One particular note is that those who feel the isolation most acutely are often those who live alone, and those who are young. And, as with all young people, having very, very clear understandings of the reasons for the request is importance for high compliance. Based on the news from Italy four or five days ago, there were thousands of citations written for being out without a "compelling" reason. They even have been asked to return home if they do not have a self-certification paper to say where they are coming from, going to, and for which of the valid reasons (four check box choices). Those who have been out most are those... in love, dating, missing their friends, and in general, again, those younger persons who may not yet have an experience with severe illness or death. Of particular concern are the older family members (grandparents especially) of college students who just returned from large gatherings during their spring break.

Regarding the directive to require employers / supervisors to check employees for symptoms, and if symptomatic, to send them home, there are at least two issues:

#1 many exceptionally healthy people are a-symptomatic, meaning that the infection is in their respiratory system, and they are infectious, but they do not feel or look ill; and

#2 those who do develop symptoms are infections for two or three days BEFORE symptoms; and then again for a few days AFTER symptoms subside.

So, by this point, it is reasonable to assume that there is no way to know if a person is infectious, and so precautions should be taken with that in mind.

A couple lessons from Italy:

All those in the state who have worked in healthcare in the past, including the retired, are likely to be needed as "tier-three" support, doing whatever is necessary for keeping the nurses, doctors, and other experts relieved from simple duties. If plans have not yet been developed for inviting in these "reserves" so to speak, then it would be well advised to do so now.

It needs to be abundantly clear the the purpose of the order is to provide guidance on ways to maintain a 6-foot social distance from other family units of unknown infectious status. People should definitely go out for recreation and walks, go shopping (preferably to the grocery that is physically closest to their home), minimize necessary visits, such as to the gas station, by filling up the tank and then driving conservatively, and using electronic means to stay in contact with as many others as possible via text, email, social media, voice, and video; both live (speech) and recorded (press).

And, next door neighbors should be invited and feel free to speak in person while outside. And, encouraged to ask one another "What do you need?", exchanging contact information, and asking each other to "Please let me know if you need anything."