Episode 085: The Nonsensical Response to the Coronavirus Outbreak

The response from state governments in the United States have varied in how they are responding to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). My home state of Michigan has been in a state of emergency for weeks with it now extending through the end of the month. Our governor, has now made the restrictions in what the government deems "allowed" more draconian in the face of no evidence that there is any benefit. This is not to say that there is no risk to resources or people from the virus - simply that we need to truly consider the differences within the state and the real tradeoffs occurring of wrecking businesses and jobs and the effects that will have on our health too.

In fact, many of the rules added to the increased restrictions are simply an affront to our personal and economic freedoms with no regard to health policy. For instance, the advertising of anything that is not deemed essential will be illegal beginning on Monday, April 13 (order 12-D-3). I am not sure how that is even permissible, enforceable, or how it pertains to public safety in any way. There is even some dispute whether you can operate a motorboat even though you can't possibly get within a hundred feet of another human being. Our governor seems to enjoy dictatorial powers.

What should the governor of Michigan do? Here's a more sensible list:

1. Allow counties and communities to establish their own guidelines to the shuttering of businesses. This might mean restricting patrons based on what counties they live. The state can provide advice for good practices, recommendations, and data to help them make decisions.
2. Establish clear goals and the exit strategy for when the easing of restrictions will begin. Perhaps this is a decline in positive diagnoses, or deaths, or something related to testing results. We need this to know if we are making progress and give people some idea how much longer the restrictions will be in place.
3. Make mitigation (limiting the spread) of the disease your number one concern. Rules are established only with that one goal in mind.
4. Make recommendations for the use of masks, travel, hand washing, best practices for Michiganders to stay safe and healthy.
5. Limit social gathering where applicable. This would be best done on a local level but the state could establish rules for extremely large gatherings like concerts or sporting events.
6. End arbitrary rules that have no effect on the spread of disease. These would include advertising restrictions, allowing solo run businesses that have minimal contact with people (a landscaper, tree trimmer, etc.) to still work, and no cordon off sections of stores.
7. Tell those who are most vulnerable to protect themselves, stay home, and find ways to be extra cautious.
8. Rethink the regulatory framework in the state that hamper our ability to have enough supplies, hospital beds, etc. An example would be ending Certificate of Need laws which allow competitors in a market to decide if someone else can enter to compete.