18 | NOVEMBER 19 • 2020

T

he state of Michigan has
entered a new three-week
period of restrictions
intended to curb the spread of
COVID-19, which is seeing
record case numbers in the state.
The orders were announced
by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and
the Michigan Department of
Health and Human Services in
a press conference on Sunday,
Nov. 15, and went into effect
Wednesday, Nov. 18.
Major new restrictions
include suspending in-person
instruction at all colleges and
high schools, while allowing K-8
instruction to continue in-per-

son; closing all organized sports
and group exercise classes;
closing indoor dining at restau-
rants; closing all movie theaters,
casinos, bowling alleys, indoor
ice rinks and bingo halls; and
strongly urging all businesses to
work from home if possible.
Private indoor gatherings are
limited to two households at
any time, with officials urging
families to pick only one other
household to interact with for
the duration of the restriction
period. The limitations will
affect many Michiganders’

Thanksgiving gatherings.
“We are in the worst moments
of this pandemic to date,
”

Whitmer said at the press con-
ference.
Frankel Jewish Academy in
West Bloomfield was one of the
high schools that followed state
orders and shut down in-person
instruction. “We know that our
highly skilled, experienced and
creative teachers will contin-
ue to provide exemplary and
meaningful instruction, and
personalized support for each of
our students,
” wrote FJA head of
school Rabbi Azaryah Cohen in
an email to parents.
Synagogues, along with
all other houses of worship,
continue to be exempt from
the new orders. The majori-

ty of Michigan’
s Reform and
Conservative synagogues have
gone all-virtual since the start of
the pandemic.
Following the new restric-
tion announcements, Jewish
Michigan State Rep. Ryan
Berman (Commerce Township)
joined a group of other
Republican state legislators in
calling for Whitmer’
s impeach-
ment. The Republicans claimed
the governor had committed
“impeachable conduct” includ-
ing ignoring court orders and
due process and “using our kids
as political pawns.
”
An adviser on President
Trump’
s coronavirus task force,
Dr. Scott Atlas, tweeted that
Michiganders should “rise up”
against the new restrictions.
The state of Michigan
has confirmed over 276,000
COVID-19 cases to date, with
8,378 deaths. On Nov. 13, the
state recorded a record high of
9,099 new cases in a single day.

ANDREW LAPIN EDITOR

New Michigan
COVID Restrictions
Take Effect

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