A few types of businesses are still too risky to resume operation under the June relaxation of pandemic protections.
MICHIGAN — This week Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the end of the stay-at-home orders that have demonstrably flattened the curve in Michigan.
The only types of businesses still closed by Executive Order 2020-110 are indoor cinemas and performance venues, indoor fitness venues, hair and nail salons, casinos, amusement parks, bowling alleys, skating rinks, dance halls and other similar venues.
In a recent poll of Michigan voters, concerts and sporting arenas were among the last places locals reported they wanted to visit during a pandemic.
The order explains that while indoor fitness venues and sporting events are still prohibited, outdoor fitness and sports events can still take place so long as social distancing can be observed and the total size of the event doesn’t exceed 100.
The determination of what still must stay closed is based on the assessment of risk made by the MI Safe Start reengagement plan.
READ MORE: How Northern Michigan Businesses Are Welcoming Customers Back
“The measures put in place by these executive orders have been effective: the number of new confirmed cases each day continues to drop,” the order states. “Although the virus remains aggressive and persistent — on May 31, 2020, Michigan reported 57,397 confirmed cases and 5,491 deaths — the strain on our health care system has begun to relent, even as our testing capacity has increased.”
Whitmer mentioned Monday that at least personal care businesses like barbershops, nail salons and massage parlors are currently planned to open by July 4, but that will be dependent on the way the pandemic proceeds through June.
Another major development in June is the restoration of bottle and can returns June 15. Although Michiganders will be limited to $25 dollars in returns per person per day, The ‘Gander reports more than $50 million in bottle and can returns have been amassed by state residents during the pandemic.
The future of the state’s pandemic response will be heavily contingent on what shape the pandemic takes in June. The order explains that future steps, either loosening or enacting new protections, will be decided by the capacity for the state to test and trace cases, the capacity for hospitals to treat the cases identified, the state’s economic wellbeing and the availability of personal protective equipment.
“We’re in a position where we can turn the dial a little bit more,” Whitmer said in a press conference. “We’re taking a big step forward today in Michigan. There’s a crucial individual work we have to do to avoid a second wave, so it’s on all of you to do your part.”
As of Tuesday, the state of Michigan reported a total of 57,731 confirmed cases, 5,553 of whom have died. That’s a rise of 199 new cases since Monday, with 26 new deaths. Additionally, 11 previously unreported deaths were added to the Michigan Disease Surveillance System.
SEE ALSO: WATCH LIVE: Gov. Whitmer Calls Out Federal Government’s Coronavirus Response Before Congress
According to the daily update from the state, the county-level breakdown is as follows:
- Alcona: 17 (1 death)
- Allegan: 221 (6 deaths)
- Alpena: 95 (9 deaths)
- Antrim: 12
- Arenac: 34 (1 death)
- Baraga: 1
- Barry: 64 (2 deaths)
- Bay: 317 (24 deaths)
- Benzie: 4
- Berrien: 636 (53 deaths)
- Branch: 124 (2 deaths)
- Calhoun: 386 (23 deaths)
- Cass: 83 (3 deaths)
- Charlevoix: 15 (1 death)
- Cheboygan: 21 (1 death)
- Chippewa: 2
- Clare: 19 (2 deaths)
- Clinton: 140 (11 deaths)
- Crawford: 58 (5 death)
- Delta: 17 (2 deaths)
- Dickinson: 5 (2 deaths)
- Eaton: 189 (6 deaths)
- Emmet: 21 (2 deaths)
- Genesee: 2,021 (252 deaths)
- Gladwin: 18 (1 death)
- Gogebic: 5 (1 death)
- Grand Traverse: 27 (5 deaths)
- Gratiot: 76 (11 deaths)
- Hillsdale: 169 (24 deaths)
- Houghton 6
- Huron: 48 (1 death)
- Ingham: 745 (27 deaths)
- Ionia: 152 (4 deaths)
- Iosco: 96 (9 deaths)
- Iron: 1
- Isabella: 78 (7 deaths)
- Jackson: 456 (28 deaths)
- Kalamazoo: 848 (58 deaths)
- Kalkaska: 19 (2 deaths)
- Kent: 3,777 (93 deaths)
- Lake: 6
- Lapeer: 191 (30 deaths)
- Leelanau: 11
- Lenawee: 154 (4 deaths)
- Livingston: 397 (26 deaths)
- Luce: 3
- Mackinac: 8
- Macomb: 6,720 (818 deaths)
- Manistee: 11
- Marquette: 56 (12 deaths)
- Mason: 32
- Mecosta: 21 (2 deaths)
- Menominee: 8
- Midland: 82 (8 deaths)
- Missaukee: 16 (1 death)
- Monroe: 472 (21 deaths)
- Montcalm: 66 (1 death)
- Montmorency: 5
- Muskegon: 648 (37 deaths)
- Newaygo: 108
- Oakland: 8,412 (999 deaths)
- Oceana: 89 (2 deaths)
- Ogemaw: 22 (1 death)
- Osceola: 11
- Oscoda: 5 (1 death)
- Otsego: 102 (10 deaths)
- Ottawa: 786 (35 deaths)
- Presque Isle: 11
- Roscommon: 21
- Saginaw: 1,050 (109 deaths)
- Sanilac: 41 (5 deaths)
- Schoolcraft: 4
- Shiawassee: 240 (26 deaths)
- St Clair: 448 (43 deaths)
- St Joseph: 112 (2 death)
- Tuscola: 189 (24 deaths)
- Van Buren: 147 (6 deaths)
- Washtenaw: 1,340 (99 deaths)
- Wayne: 20,468 (2,475 deaths) (Detroit alone has 11,068 cases and 1,380 deaths)
- Wexford: 12 (3 deaths)
- Michigan Department of Corrections: 3,965 (70 deaths)
- Federal Corrections Institute: 147 (4 deaths)
- Unknown: 12
- Out of State: 42
Total: 57,731 cases, 5,553 deaths
Katelyn Kivel is a politics, policy and law journalist from Kalamazoo, Michigan. She studied political science at Western Michigan University and has been published in multiple national and international outlets.
