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Special Update: Governor’s Releases Metrics for Lifting of COVID-19 Restrictions

Advocacy News – April 29, 2021

In a press conference earlier today, Governor Whitmer outlined a “Michigan Vaccine to Normal Plan” providing a four-step plan for easing restrictions based on vaccine rates.

The plan provides:

  • Step One: two weeks after 4.5 million Michiganders, or 55% of those eligible, have received their first shot, MDHHS will lift the requirement for employers to require remote work when feasible.
  • Step Two: two weeks after 4.9 million Michiganders, or 60% of those eligible, have received their first shot MDHHS will:
    • Increase indoor capacity at sports stadiums, conference centers, banquet halls and funeral homes to 25%.
    • Increase capacity limits at gyms to 50%.
    • Lift the curfew on bars and restaurants.
  • Step Three: two weeks after 5.3 million Michiganders, or 65% of those eligible, have received their first shot MDHHS will:
    • Lift all indoor capacity limits, only requiring social distancing between parties.
    • Relax the limits on residential social gatherings.
  • Step Four: two weeks after 5.67 million Michiganders, or 70% of those eligible, have received their first shot MDHHS will:
    • Lift the gatherings and face masks order and no longer impose mitigation measures of that kind unless the virus threatens to overwhelm the medical system or some other unanticipated circumstance arises.

Currently, 48.8 percent of Michiganders, or approximately four million people, have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The Governor said at her press conference that, if the state keeps its current vaccination rate, it could achieve the 55 percent threshold for step on by the end of May, meaning at that time the remote work requirement could be lifted.

The Chamber is cautiously optimistic but pleased to see the Governor start to move to reopen Michigan’s economy, especially given that many other states have already taken more decisive action to do so.  The Reopen Michigan Safely Campaign (www.reopenmichigansafely.com), which the MI Chamber is leading and has over 50 members, has had a positive impact on this debate and these plans.

We will be watching closely over the next few weeks to see if the  Michigan Occupational and Safety Administration (MIOSHA) and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) actions align with the plans the Governor outlined today.

Please contact us at info@michamber.com if you have any questions.

Advocacy News – April 29, 2021

In a press conference earlier today, Governor Whitmer outlined a “Michigan Vaccine to Normal Plan” providing a four-step plan for easing restrictions based on vaccine rates.

The plan provides:

  • Step One: two weeks after 4.5 million Michiganders, or 55% of those eligible, have received their first shot, MDHHS will lift the requirement for employers to require remote work when feasible.
  • Step Two: two weeks after 4.9 million Michiganders, or 60% of those eligible, have received their first shot MDHHS will:
    • Increase indoor capacity at sports stadiums, conference centers, banquet halls and funeral homes to 25%.
    • Increase capacity limits at gyms to 50%.
    • Lift the curfew on bars and restaurants.
  • Step Three: two weeks after 5.3 million Michiganders, or 65% of those eligible, have received their first shot MDHHS will:
    • Lift all indoor capacity limits, only requiring social distancing between parties.
    • Relax the limits on residential social gatherings.
  • Step Four: two weeks after 5.67 million Michiganders, or 70% of those eligible, have received their first shot MDHHS will:
    • Lift the gatherings and face masks order and no longer impose mitigation measures of that kind unless the virus threatens to overwhelm the medical system or some other unanticipated circumstance arises.

Currently, 48.8 percent of Michiganders, or approximately four million people, have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The Governor said at her press conference that, if the state keeps its current vaccination rate, it could achieve the 55 percent threshold for step on by the end of May, meaning at that time the remote work requirement could be lifted.

The Chamber is cautiously optimistic but pleased to see the Governor start to move to reopen Michigan’s economy, especially given that many other states have already taken more decisive action to do so.  The Reopen Michigan Safely Campaign (www.reopenmichigansafely.com), which the MI Chamber is leading and has over 50 members, has had a positive impact on this debate and these plans.

We will be watching closely over the next few weeks to see if the  Michigan Occupational and Safety Administration (MIOSHA) and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) actions align with the plans the Governor outlined today.

Please contact us at info@michamber.com if you have any questions.