Bruce DeRuiter and his wife typically winter in Naples, Florida, then drive back up to their Lake City residence in Northern Michigan sometime in April.

This year, their stay in Florida could be a lot longer than they expected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. DeRuiter said while they “can’t stay down here forever,” the couple is planning to continue their self-isolation routine in their Florida condo until the peak of the disease has passed.

“Like a lot of our friends, we don’t know when we’re going home,” he said. “These are such unusual times, it’s out of our hands. We have just got to wait until it’s safe.”

As COVID-19 continues its spread across the country, DeRuiter is one of many so-called Michigan “snowbirds” whose seasonal sojourn to warmer climates has left them far from home during a pandemic. Some are riding out the storm where they are, while others have returned or are planning trips home.

Dan Simonelli and his wife are planning to return to Michigan next week, driving straight through to avoid unnecessary contact with others.

They’re currently in Venice, Florida, and they’re concerned they have more risk of exposure in their condo than they would on their two-acre rural property in Saline, a city in Washtenaw County.

“We’re anxious to get home,” he said, noting they plan to wear gloves when getting gas and will only stop for essentials, like letting their dog out, and don’t plan on leaving their property once they get back. “I’d rather be home if I am going to contract this virus.”

While seasonal residents grapple with what to do, some communities with high populations of seasonal residents are bracing themselves for the possibility that some of those returning could bring COVID-19 with them.

So far, Southeast Michigan has been the Michigan region hardest hit by COVID-19. In all, 68 of Michigan’s 83 counties have at least one confirmed coronavirus case, but 79.5 percent of cases and almost 88 percent of the state’s deaths have occurred in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

But more cases are beginning to crop up in Northwest Michigan counties, which during the summer months are hotspots for seasonal residents and visitors from downstate and around the country. There have been five deaths confirmed by the state in the region, with the coronavirus claiming the lives of people from Grand Traverse, Emmet, Kalkaska and Missaukee counties.

Michigan’s stay-at-home order, which bars unnecessary travel for individuals and shutters in-person operations for non-essential businesses, doesn’t prohibit people from traveling to homes they own.

The possibility of people coming up to their summer homes or cabins from places harder hit by the disease and not abiding by social distancing guidelines is worrisome, said Dr. Michael Collins, medical director of the Grand Traverse County Health Department.

Anecdotally, Collins said officials have heard some seasonal residents are coming back earlier than usual. He suggests anyone coming back to Michigan from another area should quarantine themselves for at least two weeks, avoiding trips to the grocery store or anything that would put them in contact with others in addition to basic practices like washing their hands frequently and using hand sanitizer.

“It doesn’t take many who don’t follow that kind of instruction to really make a big difference in the ultimate success or failure, in terms of how many cases we get and how quickly,” he said.

The concern of additional spread from people traveling back is shared by summer hotspots all over the country.

One island community in Maine, North Haven, briefly banned all visitors and seasonal residents from traveling there, although that outright ban was rescinded a few days later, according to the Bangor Daily News.

In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy asked those who have homes on the Jersey Shore to avoid them: “The local infrastructure, especially the health care infrastructure, is not prepared for the influx of part-time residents,” he wrote on Twitter.

It’s hard to pin down exactly how many residents live in Michigan part-time, although a 2014 seasonal population study of the Northwest Michigan region conducted by the Michigan State University Land Policy Institute concluded seasonal residents made up about 10 percent of the region’s total population in peak months.

Elk Rapids Village President James Janisse is one of several Northern Michigan community officials who have asked seasonal residents to delay their return up north or self-quarantine upon their arrival. Others have included Traverse City Mayor Jim Carruthers and Charlevoix Mayor Luther Kurtz.

Janisse said he understands some people have to return to Michigan and appreciates the social distancing measures he’s witnessed in his community so far. But he warned the region is ill-equipped to handle an influx of COVID-19 cases, and said all residents need to use common sense and take social distancing seriously.

“Northern Michigan has always been a place where you come on vacation - we’re safe up here, you get to relax,” he said. “We’re not relaxed here. We need to be vigilant.”

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

Related links:

Coronavirus continues rampage through Michigan as case total reaches 10,791, death toll hits 417

Michigan islands warn they are not a ‘safe haven’ from coronavirus

Whitmer’s proposed 70-day emergency extension for coronavirus response ‘too long,’ Senate leader says

DNR closes Tippy Dam due to social distancing violations, warns more closures are 'likely’

What’s open, what’s closed under Gov. Whitmer’s coronavirus stay-at-home order

Whitmer says those who don’t follow Michigan stay home order are ‘incredibly selfish,' risk coronavirus spread