A new COVID-19 order from the Michigan Department of Health and Human services goes into effect on Wednesday and hopes to quell the current surge in virus cases over the next three weeks.
MDHHS Director Robert Gordon issued the emergency order under the authority granted to him under MCL 333.2226(d), a Michigan Law that gives MDHHS the power to “[e]xercise authority to promulgate rules to safeguard properly the public health; to prevent the spread of diseases and the existence of sources of contamination; and to implement and carry out the powers and duties vested by law in the department.”
The new orders target specific gathering places that have been determined as sources of more frequent spread of COVID-19. This includes indoor dining, group exercise classes, and indoor public gatherings of all types. The MDHHS order prohibits residential gatherings of over 10 people from more than two households; therefore attempting to reduce spread of COVID-19 as a result of multi-family indoor gatherings at Thanksgiving.
The order also restricts all indoor dining which will force restaurants to return completely to carry out, drive through, or curbside service until the order is lifted on December 8, 2020 at 11:59 PM.
MDHHS, the Governor’s office, and the State Attorney General Dana Nessel, have issued statements confirming that law enforcement officers are “deemed to be department representatives for purposes of enforcing this order, and are specifically authorized to investigate potential violations” of the order.
Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand
