DETROIT, April 27 (Reuters) – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday outlined the “first steps” to begin reopening the Midwestern state’s economy as it battles the coronavirus pandemic, starting with non-essential surgeries this week and then moving on to the manufacturing and retail sectors after that.
“These are first steps,” DeWine said. “We’ve got to get moving. We’ve got to get people back to work. We’ve got to open things up.”
The plans diverge from those of its neighbor in Michigan in allowing manufacturing to return on May 4. Michigan has not yet outlined specific plans to allow manufacturing to resume. Ohio and Michigan are key states that President Donald Trump, a Republican, won in the 2016 election.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Monday she plans to consider workplace environment, geographical region and the detected prevalence of COVID-19 in deciding when certain businesses can be reopened as the threat of the virus subsides, reported Crain’s Detroit Business, a…