More and more Michigan residents are becoming fed up with the stringent coronavirus restrictions from Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Indeed, there are some residents of a small Michigan Upper Peninsula county that are reportedly going to say that they “identify as fully vaccinated” so that they will be able to ditch their masks when they go out in public.
The updated guidance was issued last week by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and these new guidelines are allowing for fully vaccinated individuals to “resume their activities without physically distancing nor having to wear a mask.” This has invariably led to some confusion as to how to enforce social distancing and mask guidelines in public. Additionally, it has led to yet another serious problem for Michigan residents.
First of all, this is a region of the country that is eager to be completely finished with the pandemic. Howeer, there are some who are taking advantage of that uncertainty, according to Kerry Ott, the public information officer for the Mackinac, Luce, Alger, and Schoolcraft health departments, as reported by Michigan radio.
“There are a lot of people who are using that phrase I identify as someone who is fully vaccinated’ and starting to take their masks off,” Ott said regarding Luce County Residents. “I am not kidding here…these people are not even vaccinated, but they are just fed up and taking their masks off.”
Considering that this is a county of over 6,000 people and only three of them have passed away due to the virus, this opportunistic behavior is note meeting that much resistance from public health officials.
Ott has reportedly been telling most of the local businesses that they don’t have much choice but to make a “good faith” effort on this issue.
“We’re just repeating what is in the governor’s orders. We’re not asking for people’s vaccination cards. We’re just asking for them to self attest their vaccination status. And if they say yes, we’re telling the businesses, ‘Then take them at their word and move forward,'” she said.
Writer Kate Wells wrote a report where she paraphrased a famous quote by former President Donald Trump in order to note that at least in the Upper Peninsula, and in her case Luce County, there are times where it can feel like “the cure is worse than the disease.”
That sentiment was echoed by Raymond Mahaffey, or “Chief Ray” as he is referred to by the locals. He is one of only 35% of residents in that county who have been vaccinated.
“It’s time that we let nature take its course,” he said. “Ultimately, it will all work itself out.”
“These restrictions have been nothing but political,” he continued, “and most of us can’t wait for them to get over with.”
Do you agree with this man’s sentiments that Governor Whitmer is overreaching? Your comments would be appreciated.