Michigan Health Department COVID-19 Rules

In response to the Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling against the Governor’s authority to extend an emergency declaration, the Department of Health and Human Services has issued an order that reinstates many of the social distancing rules and gathering restrictions that were originally put in place by the Governor’s executive orders. You can read the Health Department’s rules here, but in general:

Gatherings

1. Indoor gatherings of up to 10 persons occurring at a residence are permitted.
2. Indoor gatherings of up to 10 persons occurring at a non-residential venue are permitted provided each person at the gathering wears a face covering.
3. In venues without fixed seating, limit attendance to 25 persons per 1,000 square feet in each occupied room.
4. Outdoor gatherings of up to 100 persons occurring at a residence are permitted.
5. Outdoor gatherings of up to 100 persons occurring at a non-residential venue are permitted provided that each person at the gathering wears a face covering.
6. Outdoor gatherings of more than 100 and up to 1,000 persons occurring at a non-residential venue with fixed seating are permitted only to the extent that the organizers and venue:
   (A) In venues with fixed seating, limit attendance to 30% of seating capacity;
   (B) In venues without fixed seating, limit attendance to 30 persons per 1,000 square feet, including within any distinct area within the event space;
   (C) Require that each person gathered wear a face covering

(The above size limitations does not apply to: Voting or election-related activities at polling places; Training of law enforcement, correctional, medical, or first responder personnel; Gatherings for the purpose of engaging in organized sports held in accordance with section 5 of this order; Students in a classroom setting or children in a daycare setting.)

Businesses, government offices, schools, and other operations must not allow indoor gatherings of any kind unless they require individuals to wear a face covering. For schools in Region 6, the wearing of face coverings is recommended.

Face Mask Exceptions

(a) Are younger than five years old (and, per guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), children under the age of two should not wear a mask);
(b) Cannot medically tolerate a face covering;
(c) Are eating or drinking while seated at a food service establishment;
(d) Are exercising outdoors and able to consistently maintain six feet of social distance;
(e) Are swimming;
(f) Are receiving a service for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary;
(g) Are entering a business or are receiving a service and are asked to temporarily remove a face covering for identification purposes;
(h) Are communicating with someone who is deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing and where the ability to see the mouth is essential to communication;
(i) Are actively engaged in a public safety role, including but not limited to law enforcement, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel, and where wearing a mask would seriously interfere in the performance of their public safety responsibilities;
(j) Are at a polling place for purposes of voting in an election;
(k) Are officiating or engaging in a religious service;
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(l) Are giving a speech for broadcast or to an audience, provided that the audience is at least six feet away from the speaker;