Last week, we reported that Michigan Democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer told reporters that she âwas gladâ that the Big Ten college sports conference was canceling its football season, highlighting the nature of the sport and how contact sports can be especially dangerous during the coronavirus pandemic.
Fast-forward to today, where Whitmer issued an executive order allowing high school football to begin in two weeks, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) announced last month that football would be moved to the spring, but appeared to change course when the MHSAA Representative Council voted Thursday to reinstate all sports.
The Free Press said that Whitmerâs executive order opens gyms and fitness centers, and allows organized sports to restart next week, other than football, which will restart the week after. Whitmer emphasized that people should not play contact sports (such as football), but it will nevertheless not be prohibited.
MHSAA executive director Mark Uyl told the Free Press that â[W]ith 25 states practicing and playing games and another eight states ready to go in a couple of days, itâs different than three weeks ago. Youâre seeing states, whose COVID-19 numbers are far worse than Michiganâs. It has been, nationwide, a very successful start to the year.â
This is obviously a small step in the right direction, but the fact that arguably the strictest governor in the age of coronavirus is finally letting up on some restrictions can be a great sign that the return to normalcy is upon us.
