Gov. Gretchen Whitmer today lifted Michigan’s stay-at-home order and moved the entire state to phase four of the six-phase MI Safe Start Plan. Michigan restaurants can reopen on June 8 — at 50% capacity and with tables at least six-feet apart — for indoor and outdoor seating, and retailers that have been closed — or open only by appointment — are permitted to reopen on June 4.
Effective immediately, groups of 100 or less may gather outdoors so long as they observe social distancing, office work that cannot be done remotely may now resume, drive-in movie theaters can start operating, and in-home services such as housecleaning can resume. On June 8, day camps for children and public swimming pools may also open. “We’re in the position where we can turn the dial a little bit more and reengage sectors of our economy and do it in a safe manner because of the sacrifice that you’ve already made,” said Whitmer in a press conference today. “We can’t let our guard down, but now we’re in a position to move forward.”
Any individual who leaves their home must still following social distancing measures and wear a face covering when in an enclosed space. Among the places still closed are indoor theaters and performance venues; casinos; indoor fitness centers; facilities offering non-essential care services such as hair, nails, tanning, massage, traditional spa, tattoos, body art, and piercings; and recreational facilities such as arcades, bingo halls, and skating rinks.
The news comes two weeks after Whitmer announced that MERC regions 6 and 8, which include the Upper Peninsula and the Traverse City regions, could begin reopening retail, restaurants, and offices. Dependent on COVID-19 numbers, she plans to move these regions to phase five of the MI Safe Start Plan later this week. “The data has shown that we’re ready to carefully move our state into this next phase. But we owe it to our front line heroes to make sure we get this right,” Whitmer said. “On behalf of our healthcare workers, our first responders, our grocery workers, childcare, utility workers, and everyone else who’s been working to keep us safe from the beginning, we all have to keep doing our part.”
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