Michigan is one of the hardest hit states by the coronavirus as their Department of Health and Human Services reports there have been 21,504 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,076 deaths as of yesterday.
Given those numbers, it was little surprise that Governor Gretchen Whitmer extended the state’s stay-at-home order through April 30th.
However, she also expanded some restrictions while loosening others. One of the most notable changes is that car dealerships will be allowed to resume sales.
Also Read: GM Pushes Online Sales As Coronavirus Keeps Shoppers Out Of Showrooms
Michigan has the third highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country, and we’re still on the upswing. We must continue to do everything we can to slow the spread and protect our families, so today, I extending the Stay Home, Stay Safe order through the end of April.
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) April 9, 2020
Under a new executive order, dealership employees have been deemed “critical infrastructure workers” which means they can return to work. However, dealerships can’t resume normal operations.
Instead, the order says dealerships can reopen to “facilitate remote and electronic sales or leases.” That being said, showrooms must remain closed to the public.
The move is clearly designed to boost auto sales which have been hammered by the coronavirus. That’s especially true in Michigan where the original executive order only allowed dealership service centers to remain open. As a result, new car sales ground to a halt.
Of course, that’s not how Whitmer is framing the issue. Instead, the state said dealers can reopen to enable “critical workers to get to their workplaces.” In effect, she’s arguing the decision has nothing to do with the auto industry but is rather about ensuring doctors, nurses and other critical infrastructure employees can purchase a new car to get to work. Needless to say, that’s a bit of a stretch.
While car dealerships can resume sales, the latest executive order bans the sale of a number of new items. In particular, it requires big box stores allowed to remain open – such as hardware and grocery stores – to cordon off garden centers as well as block access to items such as furniture, flooring and paint.
In effect, the order means people can’t do home improvement projects while they’re stuck at home. However, they can buy a new car and not drive it anywhere.