News Story

We’re No. 45 In Readiness To Reopen Society and Business

Only five states are less prepared to open up than Michigan

The state of Michigan ranked 45th out of 50 states when it comes to readiness to reopen for business and other activities, according to a Virginia-based lobbying and political consulting firm that has been tracking reopenings.

The firm, MultiState, gave Michigan a reopening score of 22 out of a possible 100 as of May 22. That tied Michigan with Delaware. Only Hawaii, New Mexico, Washington, Illinois and New York fared worse. Alaska was the top state with a score of 96 out of a possible 100.

States were ranked on 11 factors, including whether residents were under a stay-at-home order

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extend her stay-at-home order through June 12. That order has been in effect since March 23.

“We can’t drop our guard and run the risk of a second wave. So this also means we will have another short-term temporary extension of the safer-at-home order will likely be necessary, and you’ll hear more about that in the coming days,” Whitmer said at her press conference.

Other factors in the state rankings included whether so-called nonessential retail stores and various other types of businesses were allowed to reopen.

MultiState said that its rankings are updated on a daily basis.

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.