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3 MONTH SPECIAL WORM’S TURN ¢ PER WEEK! Rodman joins Thomas, BILLED MONTHLY 99PLUS APPLICABLE TAXES Lanier on all-time list VISIT: Freep.com/P-BC CALL: 1-800-395-3300 SPORTS, 2B Offer expires 9/30/20. Certain restrictions apply. Subscription includes SPEC10217_1008FP Sunday delivery at $4.30 per month for the first three months. P-BC ON GUARD FOR 189 YEARS TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2020 | FREEP.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK Up North granted a partial reopening Whitmer loosens restrictions Whitmer first put her stay-at-home order in craft. place that those businesses will be able to ad- Bars and restaurants will be allowed to op- just in time for Memorial Day “We’re seeing it’s safe to take mit the public and it comes just ahead of the erate as long as they do so at half their capacity, this step at this time. ... In some Memorial Day weekend. and offices where work can’t be done remotely regions of the state, they’ve Todd Spangler Detroit Free Press The impacted counties are: may also open, subject to social distancing USA TODAY NETWORK just not been hit as hard.” ❚ In the northern Lower Peninsula: Alpena, rules. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Craw- Short-term vacation rentals continue to be Retail businesses in northern parts of Mich- ford, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leela- closed for now and the change doesn’t affect igan, including bars and restaurants, will be nesses and offices in the Upper Peninsula and nau, Manistee, Missaukee, Montmorency, Ot- other parts of the governor’s order, with school able to reopen Friday as coronavirus-related 17 counties in the northern Lower Peninsula, sego, Presque Isle, Roscommon and Wexford. remaining closed, for instance. People will also cases and deaths continue to fall rapidly across including those around Traverse City, to re- ❚ On the Upper Peninsula: Alger, Baraga, still be required to wear masks and make every the state, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Monday. open as long as they follow guidelines intended Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Hought- effort to keep 6 feet away from others as Whitmer issued an executive order Monday to slow the virus’ spread. on, Iron, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Mar- allowing nonessential and non-exempt busi- It marks the first time in two months since quette, Menominee, Ontonagon and School- See REOPENING, Page 6A CORONAVIRUS UPDATE AUTOWORKERS STREAM BACK INTO PLANTS Infection totals 1 in 3 avoid Michigan: At least 4,915 deaths, 51,915 cases Assembly lines crank up U.S.: 90,338 deaths, medical care 1,508,168 cases World: 318,213 deaths, 4,795,941 cases because of (As of 9 p.m. Monday) Sewage testing could COVID-19 track coronavirus METRO, 4A Redford man nearly lost life Duggan: Detroit ready to after suffering heart attack reopen for business 5A Kristen Jordan Shamus Detroit Free Press USA TODAY NETWORK Survivors warn of reopening too fast Michael Devine had chest pain. 7A He thought it was heartburn. He thought it would go away. He tried to will it away. Limited service for Up Because in the middle of a pandemic, De- North restaurants, bars vine, 51, of Redford didn’t want to have to go to MICHIGAN BUSINESS, 8A the hospital. He wanted to avoid the one place where he knew there would be people with WHO will launch COVID-19. independent probe So Devine chose to wait it out — like nearly NATION+WORLD, 11A one-third of Americans who said they also put off getting medical care to avoid the risk of exposure to novel coronavirus, according to a new poll from the American College of Emer- Inside today’s Free Press gency Physicians and Morning Consult. ❚ Obituaries............................10A Autoworkers arrive to start their shifts Monday at the FCA plant on Mound Road. It was the first day back in As many as 80% of the 2,201 adults polled ❚ Life+Tech................................6B two months after being shut down because of the coronavirus epidemic. PHOTOS BY KIRTHMON F. DOZIER/DFP April 18-20 for the survey said they were con- ❚ Comics ....................................7B cerned about contracting COVID-19 in a hos- ❚ Puzzles .............................8B-9B pital emergency room. Some are nervous despite Eric D. Lawrence and Phoebe Wall Howard “Nobody wants to go to the hospital, espe- Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY NETWORK cially during this time of COVID-19,” Devine safety measures put in place said. “No way you want to go.” Weather In the predawn darkness along Mound Road north of De- In addition to worries about contracting troit on Monday, the autoworkers hurried toward the un- the virus, Devine said he was also concerned High 67° ❚ Low 53° known. that he would add unnecessary stress to a Showers early. Forecast, 2A The first day back to work in two months since the coro- health system already taxed by the pandemic, navirus pandemic shut down manufacturing came with its taking medical resources from severely ill share of nervousness for many of those heading inside Fiat coronavirus patients who needed critical Chrysler Automobiles’ Warren Truck Assembly before 5 a.m. care. Volume 190 | No. 15 ©2020 $2.50 Of those who paused long enough to speak to a Free Press “I felt like this would just interrupt a doctor Home delivery pricing inside reporter only one said he was truly comfortable coming back. that’s working with a patient that’s more im- Subscribe: 800-395-3300 Classified: 586-977-7500; 800- The rest said it was too soon or talked about the loss of life portant, you know, somebody that probably 926-8237 from COVID-19. At this plant alone, where the popular, older has COVID-19 on a ventilator.” version of the Ram 1500 pickup is built, the toll has been tragic, The decision to avoid treatment could have with four dead, although it’s not known where any of them killed Devine, who works in distribution for a contracted the virus. manufacturing company that has aided in the WEAHII-11000v Autoworker Laruante Gary arrives prepared with his mask to start his shift. See AUTOWORKERS, Page 7A See MEDICAL CARE, Page 6A Not just clog-free... GUARANTEED Clog Free. Spring Savings (313) 241-9185 12 Months $200 20% off Lifetime No-Clog Warranty No Interest - Spring Lifetime Paint Finish Warranty No Payments Entire Job Savings Heavy Duty Construction 20% Thicker Than Conventional 20% off entire job, cannot combine With credit approval, see estimator with other offers, expires 5/31/2020 Never Fall Off or Loosen for details, expires 5/31/2020 DF-GCI0412820-03 6A ❚ TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2020 ❚ DETROIT FREE PRESS The coronavirus pandemic To reopen, businesses must have a COVID-19 plan Jennifer Dixon Detroit Free Press workplace infection-control practices and the ecutive directive that allows the director of the “The vast majority of Michigan businesses USA TODAY NETWORK proper use of personal protective equipment. Department of Labor and Economic Opportu- are doing their part to slow the spread of CO- Employers must also spell out how employ- nity to appoint a director of COVID-19 work- VID-19, but we must do more to ensure Michi- As businesses in Michigan begin to reopen, ees who have COVID-19 symptoms or a place safety to coordinate state efforts to mon- ganders are safe at work,” Whitmer said in a they will be required to follow strict safety COVID-19 diagnosis should alert their compa- itor and enforce workplace safeguards. statement. guidelines to protect their workers and cus- ny. And employers also must spell out how And state agencies that enforce workplace “This executive order, and the director of tomers from the novel coronavirus, according workers can report unsafe working conditions. safety regulations will be required to publicly COVID-19 workplace safety, will help ensure to an executive order signed Monday by Gov. The executive order provides detailed in- post citations against employers that fail to fol- employers take the needed measures to protect Gretchen Whitmer. structions for employers in construction, man- low the rules outlined in Whitmer’s workplace workers and customers from the spread of CO- The 12-page executive order requires em- ufacturing, retail, research labs, offices and safety order. VID-19,” she said. ployers to develop a COVID-19 preparedness restaurants. The governor’s order comes as federal and “We’re grateful to Gov. Whitmer for taking and response plan that can be readily provided As companies reopen, they must designate state occupational safety agencies have action today to save lives and hold down the to employees, labor unions and customers. one or more work site supervisors to monitor launched investigations into workplace fatal- spread of this awful virus,” Ron Bieber, presi- The governor’s order comes as she allows COVID-19 control strategies, and this person ities at four hospitals in Michigan and a nurs- dent of the Michigan AFL-CIO, said in a news retailers, restaurants and offices to reopen must be present at all times that workers are ing home whose employees died of complica- release from the governor’s office. across much of northern Michigan and the Up- on-site. tions from the coronavirus. “It’s not right to force people back to work per Peninsula starting Friday. The rules also require employers to provide Those investigations were opened earlier without making sure they’re kept safe. Anyone Employers that are reopening must develop nonmedical face masks to their workers; keep this month by the federal Occupational Safety returning to work should know they’ll be safe their preparedness plans by June 1, or within employees 6 feet apart, and when that’s not and Health Administration and the Michigan in their workplace, and our state should be act- two weeks of resuming in-person activities, possible, require workers to wear masks; in- Occupational Safety and Health Administra- ing to hold bad actors accountable,” Bieber whichever is later.