Updated at 5 p.m
Seven Midwestern governors, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walsh, announced Thursday that they will coordinate on opening their states' economies after similar deals were struck in the Northeast and West Coast.
The latest deal includes Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and Kentucky.
“We look forward to working with experts and taking a data-driven and data-driven approach to reopening our economy in a way that protects families from the spread of COVID-19,” the governors said. “Our No. 1 priority when analyzing when (it is) best to reopen our economy is the health and safety of our citizens.”
Midwestern alliance joins deals on the West Coast and in the Northeast announced this week. In total, the 17 states covered by the partnerships are home to nearly half the nation's population.
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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, whose early and aggressive response to the virus has received broad bipartisan praise, was named in the joint news release. However, his spokesman said that as of Thursday, DeWine had not entered into any formal agreement or settlement. DeWine said during a daily news briefing that he was in constant conversation with the governors of all of Ohio's border states.
“I can't speak to what the other governors will do, and I won't, but we're all in great contact and I think it's good for the people of our respective states to share ideas,” he said.
“The phase-in of areas of our economy will be most effective when we work together as a district,” said the governors, who include five Democrats — Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Tony Evers of Wisconsin, J. and two Republicans, DeWine and Eric Holcomb of Indiana. They stressed that it does not mean that every state will take the same steps at the same time.
“Close coordination will make sure we get it right,” said Evers, who Thursday extended Wisconsin's stay-at-home order until May 26.
Holcomb, who could announce Friday whether to extend or modify Indiana's stay-at-home order scheduled to expire early next week, described the pact as a way to make sure all state leaders know about the actions others take.
“We're all thinking about this smart restart, opening up our states in a very gradual, methodical way if the numbers continue to hold and the trends continue to hold,” he said.
