By NewsDesk  @bactiman63

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued an updated Gatherings and Face Mask Order Thursday as the COVID-19 situation in the state continues to constitute an epidemic.

michigan map
Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

MDHHS says the State of Michigan presently has 172 cases per million people and positivity of tests has increased from about 2% to 5.5%. Both indicators have been increasing for over four weeks.

In addition, three of five regions are now at the highest risk level, risk level E (Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Upper Peninsula). Rising cases creates significant pressures on our emergency and hospital system. Complaints of coronavirus like illness (CLI) in the emergency department increased for the sixth week in a row for the state and there are now four regions where greater than 1% of all persons at the emergency department present with CLI (Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, and Upper Peninsula). Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have doubled over the last three weeks.

The state death rate has increased for five consecutive weeks to 2.1 deaths per million people. More than 20 weekly deaths are seen in four regions (Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Upper Peninsula).

Because of the above, the following mitigation techniques are part of the order (this is a partial list):

Indoor gatherings are permitted only: 10 or fewer persons are gathered at a residence and50 or fewer persons are gathered in a non-residential venue without fixed seating, and attendance is limited to 20 persons per 1,000 square feet in each occupied room.

Outdoor gatherings are permitted only as follows: 100 or fewer persons are gathered at a residence.

At non-residential venues:

    1. 1,000 or fewer persons are gathered at a venue without fixed seating, and attendance is limited to 30 persons per 1,000 square feet, including within any distinct area within the event space;
    2. 1,000 or fewer persons are gathered at a venue with fixed seating, and attendance is limited to 30% of seating capacity of the venue

For restaurants, all dine-in food service establishments must maintain accurate records of the names and phone numbers of patrons who purchase food for consumption on the premises, and the date and time of entry.

Of course mask requirements are still in effect in most situations. Michigan health officials listed some exceptions to include children younger than 5 years old, when eating or drinking while seated at a food service establishment and if you weren’t sure, you don’t need to wear a mask while swimming.

The order takes effect on November 2, 2020.

Michigan has recorded nearly 200,000 cases to date, including 7700 deaths.