LANSING, MI (WTVB) — Governor Gretchen Whitmer is lifting Michigan’s COVID-19 stay-at-home order, letting restaurants reopen to dine-in customers next week, and immediately easing limits on gatherings while keeping social-distancing rules intact.
On Monday, June 1, the governor moved six remaining regions comprising 93% of the state’s population to phase 4, the “improving” phase, of the MI Safe Start Plan. This comes just two weeks after she announced that two regions in northern Michigan could advance to that stage.
Some businesses where close contact is necessary like gyms, hair salons, indoor theaters, and casinos will remain closed.
Retailers can reopen to customers without an appointment on Thursday and restaurants can offer dine-in service June 8, both with capacity limits. Day camps for children and pools can open June 8. Groups of up to 100 can gather outside with social distancing, up from a threshold of 10.
In-home services such as housecleaning can resume. Gyms and fitness centers can offer outdoor activities such as classes, practices, training sessions and games as long as participants, coaches,and spectators stay six feet apart.
Whitmer said her goal is to shift the state to phase 5, “containing”, before July 4.
Whitmer said in a statement before a Monday afternoon press briefing “While Michiganders are no longer required to stay home, we must all continue to be smart and practice social distancing, and encourage those who meet the criteria to get tested for COVID-19.”
Michiganders must continue to wear facial coverings when in enclosed public spaces and take extra precautions to protect the community.
A full list of businesses that can and cannot reopen can be found at michigan.gov/coronavirus.
