CLICK TO LISTEN TO GOV. WHITMER’S MONDAY AFTERNOON COMMENTS
For the first time since March 23, Michigan is no longer under a Stay at Home order.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Monday lifted the order, which had been extended multiple times, and was due to run through June 12. The governor signed a new executive order which moves all of the Lower Peninsula to Phase Four of the state’s six-phase MI Safe Start program to re-engage its economy.
The governor said that later this week, if the number of coronavirus cases continues to fall, the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Michigan will move into Phase Five, which allows many more activities and businesses to reopen.
Whitmer’s announcement allows restaurants and bars to re-open downstate in one week, on June 8. The U.P. bars and restaurants have been able to do so for the past ten days.
Day camps will be allowed to re-open for the summer, and gatherings of 100 people or less will be permitted.
Hair salons and fitness gyms, indoor theaters, and other personal services, remain closed until further notice.
“Two to three more weeks, I’d like to be able to do it before the Independence Day weekend,” Whitmer said.
If the Upper Peninsula moves to Phase Five, as the governor suggested, then hair salons and fitness gyms could re-open here sooner.
Whitmer says that if the Grand Rapids area improves its numbers, the entire state could move to Phase Five sooner, possibly by July.
She says that social distancing is still a must, and there will be restrictions in place in those types of businesses going forward.
To view Executive Order 2020-110, Click the link below:
The governor’s statement:
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-110, rescinding her Safer at Home order and moving the entire state to phase four of the MI Safe Start Plan.
The governor’s order will allow retailers to reopen on June 4 and restaurants to reopen on June 8, both subject to capacity limits. Day camps for children will likewise be permitted to open on June 8. Effective immediately, groups of 100 or less will be allowed gather outdoors with social distancing. Office work that is not capable of being performed remotely can resume. And in-home services, including housecleaning services, can resume operations.
“The data has shown that we are ready to carefully move our state into the next phase of the MI Safe Start Plan, but we owe it to our brave frontline heroes to get this right,” said Governor Whitmer. “While Michiganders are no longer required to stay home, we must all continue to be smart and practice social distancing, and encourage those who meet the criteria to get tested for COVID-19. If we all do our part, our goal is to announce a shift to phase five for the entire state prior to the fourth of July. Stay smart, stay safe, and let’s all do our part.”
Michiganders must continue to wear facial coverings when in enclosed public spaces and should continue to take all reasonable precautions to protect themselves, their loved ones, and the community. And they should continue to work from home to the maximum extent possible.
“The governor and I, along with a team of experts, have determined that our state is ready to move into the next phase of the MI Safe Start Plan. Hospitalization numbers are down, our frontline workers have PPE to last them several weeks, and the number of positive cases and deaths are declining,” said MDHHS Chief Deputy for Health and Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun. “We will continue to monitor the data and work closely with local health departments to ensure Michiganders practice safe social distancing. On behalf of our health care professionals and first responders on the front lines, we must all be smart and be safe.”
Subject to local regulation, gyms and fitness centers may conduct outdoor classes, practices, training sessions, or games, provided that coaches, spectators, and participants maintain six feet of distance from one another during these activities. Outdoor pools can also reopen, with restricted capacity.
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