The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has updated the Gatherings and Face Mask Order (New Order). The New Order comes in response to the CDC’s latest guidance, which recommended that “fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting,” except where required by applicable law, including local business and workplace guidance. The New Order is consistent with the CDC’s latest guidance, but represents a departure from the governor’s recently announced MI Vacc to Normal Challenge.
The New Order eliminates the mask requirement for all individuals when outdoors, regardless of vaccination status. Furthermore, the New Order permits fully vaccinated individuals to be indoors without a mask. Individuals that are not vaccinated will need to continue to observe mask requirements, with the general mask requirement currently set to expire July 1, 2021.
Importantly, however, Michigan Occupational and Safety Administration (MIOSHA) rules remain in force and effect. As a result, workplace requirements remain unchanged, with employers still required to make masks available to employees. Additionally, all employees must wear masks when they cannot consistently stay six feet apart, are in shared spaces and common areas and in meetings—regardless of vaccination status.
Helpful Links
Below are links to various summaries issued by the MDHHS:
You can also find information at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
The state’s approach to the COVID-19 vaccine is available here: Michigan.gov/COVIDVaccine.
Warner continues to follow COVID-19 updates. For additional information or questions about the New Order or any COVID-19-related issues, please contact a member of our COVID-19 service team: Michael Azzi, Amanda Fielder, Monique Field-Foster, Matthew Johnson or Ford Turrell.
