Michigan’s stay-home order was lifted Monday, June 1, by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, signaling a milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic as cases trend downward.
Bars and restaurants will soon be allowed to reopen in a limited capacity and retailers will be able to legally reopen to customers without an appointment.
“Northern Michigan restaurants sort of had the first crack at this and exceeded expectations - they demonstrated very ably they were able to operate safely,” said Justin Winslow, president and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association. “I think that helps set the stage for moving into this next phase.”
Gyms, hair salons, indoor theaters and casinos are among the businesses that will remain closed. Here’s what will and will not be allowed -- and when -- as ordered by the governor.
Michigan has more than 100 executive orders, some of which are accompanied by "frequently-asked-questions" pages to clear up discrepancies. Many of them have been extended, replaced or rolled back on.
Instead of making residents wade through the orders for answers, MLive has created a scorecard of what’s allowed and what is not.
Below is a look at more of the most recent developments in the COVID-19 crisis in Michigan:
Michigan reports lowest 24-hour coronavirus case increase in months
Michigan health officials announced 135 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 25 new deaths on Monday afternoon, June 1.
Monday’s new cases marked the fewest in a 24-hour span since mid-March, when the state’s first cases were reported.
Since mid-March, the Department of Health and Human Services has reported 57,532 confirmed cases of the infectious virus, including 5,516 cases that resulted in death.
Michigan reopening bottle returns starting June 15
The Michigan Department of Treasury has good news for Michigan residents missing the sticky, clanking confines of the neighborhood bottle return room, currently closed due to the coronavirus.
Beginning on June 15, some retailers must reopen their bottle return facilities, the department announced Monday. The reopening applies to stores with bottle return facilities housed at the front of the store or in separated areas and serviced by reverse vending machines, meaning they require little person-to-person contact.
‘Things feel so dark,’ Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says on riots, coronavirus and Midland flooding
Gov. Whitmer provided blunt statements on how Michigan in 2020 has faced crisis after crisis, saying it is “hard to believe on a beautiful Sunday that things feel so dark.”
She traded statements with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist in a social media post about how the state has dealt with the COVID-19 outbreak, the Midland dam flooding and this weekend, violence erupting at police brutality protests.
“We have collectively been devastated by a global pandemic,” Whitmer said. “One that has killed 5,463 of our brothers and sisters.”
“We are grappling with a once-in-500-year flooding event,” Gilchrist said next.
“And now we are seeing the historic inequities of racial injustice coming to a tipping point in communities across America, including here in Michigan” Whitmer said.
Why is Michigan’s coronavirus death rate so high?
By multiple measures, coronavirus COVID-19 has been particularly deadly in Michigan.
Almost 5,500 Michiganders have died in the coronavirus crisis, the fifth-highest death total in the county behind New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Per capita, Michigan ranks seventh among the 50 states.
Michigan’s death count equates to almost 10% of the state’s confirmed cases. That’s the highest percentage in the country.
Northern Michigan casino possible coronavirus exposure site, health department says
People who visited a Northern Michigan casino and two restaurants on Friday, May 29, could have been exposed to COVID-19 coronavirus.
The Health Department of Northwest Michigan announced on Sunday, three locations where there may have been “low-risk exposure” to the novel virus. The public notice was issued because contact tracing could not identify all people the infect person came into close contact with.
Whitmer hopes to reopen gyms, salons and more by 4th of July weekend
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at a press conference Monday announcing the end of the stay-at-home order in Michigan said she hopes to reopen additional businesses, like salons and gyms, by July 4.
A number of businesses will be allowed to reopen or expand services in the coming week. But as of now, that does not include businesses like gyms, movie theaters, salons and state-licensed casinos. However, the governor says the state is inching closer to getting those businesses reopened.
Huron-Manistee National Forest begins reopening recreation sites, campgrounds
The National Forest Service is beginning to reopen developed recreation sites and campgrounds within the Huron-Manistee National Forests.
Facilities and services at trailheads and river access points began to reopen on Friday, May 29. Developed campgrounds will begin to reopen “as circumstances allow,” in coordination with local, state and federal health guidelines.
The nearly one million-acre national forest spans from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron in the northern Lower Peninsula. Restrictions related to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic began to ease in the region on May 22.
Michigan Republican Party announces virtual convention to elect at-large delegates
The Michigan Republican Party will host its spring convention in a virtual format this year as the party prepares to elect at-large delegates to send to the Republican National Convention in August.
The state’s virtual convention will take place on Saturday, June 13. At it, delegates will also elect the Republican National Committeeman and Committeewoman.
“On June 13, the Michigan Republican Party will show Governor Gretchen Whitmer that no matter how many executive orders she passes, she can’t shut us down.” said Laura Cox, Michigan Republican Party Chairman in a press release.
Bike boom: Washtenaw shops see huge increase in business amid coronavirus stay-at-home orders
The coronavirus pandemic has caused many businesses to slow or completely halt for months, leaving them wondering how they’re going to survive.
Then, there’s Ann Arbor’s Wheels in Motion bicycle shop, 3402 Washtenaw Ave., which has been open since 1933 but is seeing the busiest time in the shop’s history right now.
This shop is not alone. Bicycle shops across the country are experiencing a boom in sales and service requests, all during a bike shortage as well. Shops in the Ann Arbor area have had to adapt to the boom in business while also adhering to health guidelines.
Blake Oakes goes from all-time leading scorer to rookie on front-line coronavirus team
Blake Oakes feels like he’s coming off the bench at the biggest point in the game.
And, as his former Essexville Garber coaches and teammates can attest, he’s just the man who can answer the call in this pressure situation.
A record-setting basketball player and track star as a 2015 Garber graduate, Oakes began his career as a registered nurse at Detroit Receiving Hospital in late February. One month into the job, he stood at Michigan’s epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.
Plans for new Grand Rapids restaurant shelved amid coronavirus pandemic
Restaurateur David Reinert has shelved plans to convert an old, industrial building near the burgeoning Bridge Street corridor in Grand Rapids into a new restaurant.
Reinert, who owns Butcher’s Union and O’Toole’s Public House, submitted plans for the concept to the city of Grand Rapids in February, and his request was to go before the planning commission on Thursday. But he decided to pull the proposal, citing the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“For us, we need to feel very confident that we’re past COVID, and additionally that we fully understand the potentially new restaurant and hospitality landscape post COVID,” Reinert said.
More Michigan coronavirus coverage, here
PREVENTION TIPS
In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.
Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.
Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces.
Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.