Michigan retail businesses, autodealerships and medical services will begin to reopen next week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced on Thursday.
The latest executive order allows retail businesses to reopen on Tuesday with health and safety guidelines, including providing COVID-19 training to workers. The training must include the proper use of personal protection equipment and steps to take if a worker suspects he or she has symptoms of the coronavirus, among other information.
The order also allows autodealerships statewide to open by appointment on Tuesday. Starting Friday, health care providers will no longer be required to delay some nonessential medical, dental and veterinary procedures.
“As businesses continue to reopen, it’s crucial that they adopt strict safety measures to protect their employees, customers, and their families,” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the chief deputy for health and chief medical executive for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement. “I know that as medical professionals begin offering nonessential procedures again, they will do everything in their power to protect patients and their families from COVID-19.”
Gatherings of 10 people or less will be allowed starting immediately, as long as attendees practice social distancing.
“The data shows that Michigan is ready to phase in these sectors of our economy, but we must stay vigilant and ensure we’re doing everything we can to protect ourselves and our families from the spread of COVID-19,” Whitmer said in a statement. “On behalf of our brave first responders on the front lines of this crisis, we must continue to all do our part by staying safer at home. We owe it to them to do what we can to stop the spread of this virus.”
Michigan currently has more than 53,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, according to the MDHHS. The death toll in the state is 5,129.
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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair. Email her at [email protected].
