FACE MASK REQUIREMENTS

The Wayne County Health Department issued an emergency public health order on Oct. 8 requiring residents to continue taking steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Wayne County officials say requirements listed in Thursday’s order essentially carry on health and safety precautions previously ordered by Michigan Gov. The Wayne County Health Department is reinforcing these measures by deeming them active and enforceable in the county through their own emergency order. Officials say schools under the jurisdiction of the Wayne County Health Department are also required to continue following the state’s Return to School plan. Wayne County officials say the emergency order is effective immediately and is expected to remain in effect until at least Oct. 23.

Some Michigan counties are issuing local emergency orders to ensure coronavirus safety measures continue after the state Supreme Court struck down months of orders made by Gov. This is a public health advisory from the St. Clair County Health Department, not a mandate. Click here to read more about Washtenaw County’s recent emergency public health orders. The county health department issued another emergency order on Oct. 9 clarifying that some of Gov. Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans said the Wayne County Public Health Division and his administration continue to review the state Supreme Court’s ruling.

LANSING, Mich. – New emergency orders issued Sunday will require Ingham County residents to continue following coronavirus safety requirements, regardless of the Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling on Gov. Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail issued four new emergency orders on Sunday to “keep several COVID-19 protections in place” just after the state Supreme Court struck down Gov. “Protecting Ingham County residents is a responsibility that I take very seriously. Ingham County’s four new emergency orders can be viewed at the following links: Ingham2020-21, Ingham2020-22, Ingham2020-23, Ingham2020-24. The Ingham County Health Department said Sunday that Vail has the authority to issue the orders under Michigan Law MCL 333.2453.

The Michigan Supreme Court decided Friday that a law from 1945 is unconstitutional, impacting months of orders made by Gov. According to the court, those orders are no longer enforceable. Whitmer says her existing orders will remain in effect for at least 21 days, but some are arguing that Whitmer has no legal basis to continue enforcing emergency orders following the court’s decision. We want to know: As a Michigan resident, will you continue to wear a face mask in public spaces to prevent the spread of COVID-19 -- even if you are not required to by law? Take the quick poll below, then tell us why:Read more

A new emergency health order is requiring Oakland County residents to wear face masks anytime they leave their home in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Oakland County Health Officer Leigh-Anne Stafford issued an emergency health order Saturday that requires residents to wear face masks or coverings at any location apart from their home. “Oakland County was hit hard by COVID-19 and the virus is still in our communities,” Stafford said. In Oakland County masks will continue to be mandatory by order of our health experts. I am confident that our residents and businesses will continue to keep each other safe and protected.”Click here to read the entire Oakland County health order.

LANSING, Mich. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday a new initiative that will provide free face masks to vulnerable populations amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Vulnerable populations may have difficulties buying masks and our schools need face coverings to keep students, staff and community members safe. Face masks have been scientifically proven to significantly reduce a persons chance of spreading COVID-19, officials say. (MDHHS)Michiganders in need can obtain a free face mask a distribution location near them. Whitmer and other Michigan officials have been pushing for residents to wear face coverings amid the pandemic through the Mask Up Michigan initiative.

LANSING, Mich. Michigans top health official is calling on superintendents to require students to wear face masks this fall amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Gretchen Whitmer released guidelines for schools to reopen this fall, which do require face masks to be worn by most students during most occasions. Under Whitmers MI Safe School Roadmap, schools whose regions are in phase four of the pandemic must require students in grades 6-12 to wear face masks in classrooms. The MI Safe Schools Roadmap does require all school staff members to wear face coverings at all times, except during mealtimes. Whitmer signed an executive order requiring children and workers to wear face masks at Michigan childcare centers and camps.