EXECUTIVE ORDER

No. 2020-176

Safe Start

Rescission of Executive Orders 2020-160 and 2020-162

Where Michigan was once among the states most heavily hit by COVID-19, our per-capita
rate of new daily cases is now well below the national average. Our progress in suppressing
the disease has plateaued. Michigan’s seven-day case positivity rate has remained between
3.0% and 3.5% since early June. And although cases have continued to rise slightly—from a
rolling seven-day average of 612 cases per day on July 25 to 745 cases per day on August
25—so has our testing volume.

Recognizing the need for ongoing vigilance, this plateau allows us to carefully and
deliberately relax some restrictions. An incremental approach—where some activities
reopen before others—is essential to avoiding uncontrolled spread, measuring the result of
changes, and allowing our gradual reopening to continue. This order therefore allows for
organized sports competitions to resume, if organizers take appropriate precautions. It also
allows for gyms and pools to reopen across the state, subject to stringent safety protocols.

Additional safeguards specific to the workplace can be found in Executive Order 2020-175
or any order that may follow from it.

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness
or death. It is caused by a new strain of coronavirus not previously identified in humans
and easily spread from person to person. There is currently no approved vaccine for this
disease.

On March 10, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services identified the first two
presumptive-positive cases of COVID-19 in Michigan. On that same day, I issued Executive
Order 2020-4. This order declared a state of emergency across the state of Michigan under
section 1 of article 5 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963, the Emergency Management Act,
1976 PA 390, as amended (EMA), MCL 30.401 et seq., and the Emergency Powers of the
Governor Act of 1945, 1945 PA 302, as amended (EPGA), MCL 10.31 et seq.

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Since then, the virus spread across Michigan, bringing deaths in the thousands, confirmed
cases in the tens of thousands, and deep disruption to this state’s economy, homes, and
educational, civic, social, and religious institutions. On April 1, 2020, in response to the
widespread and severe health, economic, and social harms posed by the COVID-19
pandemic, I issued Executive Order 2020-33. This order expanded on Executive Order
2020-4 and declared both a state of emergency and a state of disaster across the State of
Michigan under section 1 of article 5 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963, the Emergency
Management Act, and the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945. And on April 30,
2020, finding that COVID-19 had created emergency and disaster conditions across the
State of Michigan, I issued Executive Order 2020-67 to continue the emergency declaration
under the EPA, as well as Executive Order 2020-68 to issue new emergency and disaster
declarations under the EMA.

Those executive orders have been challenged in Michigan House of Representatives and
Michigan Senate v. Whitmer. On August 21, 2020, the Court of Appeals ruled that the
Governor’s declaration of a state of emergency, her extensions of the state of emergency,
and her issuance of related EOs clearly fell within the scope of the Governor’s authority
under the EPGA.

On August 7, 2020, I issued Executive Order 2020-165, again finding that the COVID-19
pandemic constitutes a disaster and emergency throughout the State of Michigan. That
order constituted a state of emergency declaration under the Emergency Powers of the
Governor Act of 1945. And, to the extent the governor may declare a state of emergency and
a state of disaster under the Emergency Management Act when emergency and disaster
conditions exist yet the legislature had declined to grant an extension request, that order
also constituted a state of emergency and state of disaster declaration under that act.

The Emergency Powers of the Governor Act provides a sufficient legal basis for issuing this
executive order. In relevant part, it provides that, after declaring a state of emergency, “the
governor may promulgate reasonable orders, rules, and regulations as he or she considers
necessary to protect life and property or to bring the emergency situation within the
affected area under control.” MCL 10.31(1).

Nevertheless, subject to the ongoing litigation and the possibility that current rulings may
be overturned or otherwise altered on appeal, I also invoke the Emergency Management
Act as a basis for executive action to combat the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate the
effects of this emergency on the people of Michigan, with the intent to preserve the rights
and protections provided by the EMA. The EMA vests the governor with broad powers and
duties to “cop[e] with dangers to this state or the people of this state presented by a disaster
or emergency,” which the governor may implement through “executive orders,
proclamations, and directives having the force and effect of law.” MCL 30.403(1)–(2). This
executive order falls within the scope of those powers and duties, and to the extent the
governor may declare a state of emergency and a state of disaster under the Emergency
Management Act when emergency and disaster conditions exist yet the legislature has not
granted an extension request, they too provide a sufficient legal basis for this order.

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Acting under the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and Michigan law, I find it reasonable and
necessary, for the reasons outlined above, to order:

1. Remote work. Except in Regions 6 and 8, any work capable of being performed
remotely (i.e., without the worker leaving his or her home or place of residence) must
be performed remotely. Although not required, in Regions 6 and 8, any work capable
of being performed remotely should be performed remotely.

2. Individual responsibility. Any individual who leaves his or her home or place of
residence must:

(a) Follow social distancing measures recommended by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (“CDC”), including remaining at least six feet from
people from outside the individual’s household to the extent feasible under the
circumstances; and

(b) Follow the rules described in Executive Order 2020-153, Masks, or any order
that may follow from it.

3. Public accommodations restrictions. Subject to the exceptions in section 8

(“Regions 6 and 8”) and 9 (“Exceptions”), the following places are closed to entry, use,
and occupancy by members of the public:

(a) Indoor theaters, cinemas, and performance venues;

(b) Until September 8, 2020 at 11:59 pm, indoor gymnasiums, fitness centers,
recreation centers, sports facilities, exercise facilities, exercise studios, and the
like;

(c) Millionaire Parties licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board; and

(d) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, indoor services or facilities, or
outdoor services or facilities involving close contact of persons, for amusement or
other recreational or entertainment purposes, such as amusement parks,
arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, indoor climbing facilities, indoor dance
areas, roller rinks, ice rinks, trampoline parks, carnival or amusement rides as
defined by MCL 408.652(2), waterparks, and other similar recreational or
entertainment facilities.

(e) Bowling alleys, roller rinks, and ice rinks may be open for the sole purpose of
serving as a venue for organized sports under section 7 of this order.

4. Bars. Food service establishments, as defined in section 1107(t) of the Michigan

Food Law, 2000 PA 92, as amended, MCL 289.1107(t), that hold on-premises retailer
licenses to sell alcoholic beverages must close for indoor service if they earn more
than 70% of their gross receipts from sales of alcoholic beverages (for purposes of
calculating gross receipts, sales of lottery tickets do not count because they are
remitted to the state, although commissions, incentives, bonuses and other
payments from the Michigan Lottery do count).

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 (a) Food service establishments that are closed for indoor service but open for
outdoor service must prohibit patrons from entering the establishment, except to
walk through in order to access the outdoor area, to leave the establishment, or
to use the restroom.

(b) For purposes of calculating its percentage of gross receipts from sales of alcoholic
beverages under this section, a food service establishment must use:

(1) Gross receipts from 2019; or

(2) If the establishment was not in operation in 2019, gross receipts from the
date the establishment opened in 2020.

5. Liquor license restrictions. Dance and topless activity permits issued under
subsections 2 or 3 of section 916 of the Michigan Liquor Control Code, 1998 PA 58,
as amended, MCL 436.1916(2) and (3), are temporarily suspended. Combination
dance–entertainment permits and topless activity–entertainment permits issued
under subsection 4 of section 916 of the Michigan Liquor Control Code, MCL
436.1916(4), are suspended to the extent they allow dancing and topless activity, but
remain valid to the extent they allow other entertainment.

(a) In enforcing the Michigan Liquor Control Code, the Michigan Liquor Control
Commission will consider whether the public health, safety or welfare requires
summary, temporary suspension of a license under section 92(2) of the
Administrative Procedures Act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, as amended, MCL
24.292(2).

(b) Nothing in this order or in the Executive Order 2020-175, Workplace Safeguards,
prevents food service establishments from selling alcoholic beverages for off-
premises consumption to patrons who are not seated at a table, or requires such
patrons to remain seated when ordering such beverages.

(c) Nothing in this order or in Executive Order 2020-175, Workplace Safeguards

prevents the holder of a social district license under section 551 of the Michigan
Liquor Control Code, 1998 PA 58, as amended, MCL 436.1551 from selling
alcoholic beverages for consumption in a commons area within a designated
social district to patrons who are not seated at a table, or requires such patrons
to remain seated when ordering such beverages.

6. Gatherings, events, and large venues.

(a) Except in Regions 6 and 8 (see section 8), social gatherings and organized events
among persons not part of the same household are permitted provided that
organizers and venues ensure that:

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 (1) Persons not part of the same household maintain six feet of distance from one
another, including by designing the gathering or event to encourage and
maintain social distancing;

(2) If a gathering or event is indoors, it does not exceed 10 people; and

(3) If a gathering or event is outdoors, it does not exceed 100 people.

(b) Subsection (a) applies to workplace gatherings and events (such as meetings and
trainings), but does not apply to the incidental gathering of persons in a shared
space, including an airport, bus station, factory floor, restaurant, shopping mall,
public pool, or workplace.

7. Organized sports.

(a) For purposes of this order, “organized sports” means competitive athletic activity
requiring skill or physical prowess and organized by an institution or association
that sets and enforces rules to ensure the physical health and safety of all
participants (“sports organizer” or “sports organizers”).

(b) Athletes participating in an organized sport, while on the field of play, are not
subject to the social distancing requirements of this order found in sections 2(a)
and 6(a)(1), but instead must maintain six feet of distance from one another to
the extent compatible with that organized sport, and wear a facial covering
except when swimming. Sports organizers shall ensure that athletes comply with
this subsection for each organized sporting event.

(c) Sports organizers should follow the guidance of the Department of Health and
Human Services regarding whether and how a sport can be played safely.

(d) For indoor organized sports competitions, sports organizers must ensure that the
live audience is limited to the guests of the athletes with each athlete
designating up to two guests. For outdoor organized sports competitions, sports
organizers must ensure that either (i) the live audience is limited to the guests of
the participants with each athlete designating up to two guests or (ii) the live
audience is limited to the extent that 100 people or fewer are gathered for the
event including all participants (athletes, coaches, staff, etc.).

(e) For indoor organized sports, sports organizers must ensure that no concessions
are sold at the venue.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this order, professional sports leagues
and teams, including professional athletes engaged in individual sports, may
engage in professional sports operations, provided that:

(1) No live audiences are allowed, except for staff of the facility at which a
sporting event is held and media personnel reporting on, filming, or
otherwise documenting the sporting event;

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 (2) The activities are conducted pursuant to a COVID-19 safety plan that is
consistent with any guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services;
and

(3) Participants maintain six feet of distance from one another to the extent
compatible with the sporting activity.

8. Regions 6 and 8.

(a) Notwithstanding section 6(a)(3) of this order, an outdoor social gathering or

outdoor organized event among persons not part of the same household is
permitted in Regions 6 and 8 provided that the gathering or event does not
exceed 250 people and complies with the social distancing requirement of
subsection 6(a)(1) of this order.

(b) In Regions 6 and 8, a business or venue whose operations would otherwise be

restricted by section 3 of this order may be open to spectators or patrons provided
that it:

(1) Arranges the venue such that persons not part of the same household may
maintain six feet of distance from one another at all times while in the venue;
and

(2) Limits the number of people in the venue to 25% of its maximum capacity or
to 250, whichever is smaller. For purposes of this order, each separate
auditorium or screening room is a separate venue.

(c) In Regions 6 and 8, and notwithstanding the restrictions in subsection (a) of this
section, an outdoor concert space, race track, sports arena, stadium, or similar
outdoor venue may be open to spectators or patrons provided that it:

(1) Arranges the venue such that persons not part of the same household may
maintain six feet of distance from one another at all times while in the venue;
and

(2) Limits the number of people in the venue to 25% of its maximum capacity or
to 500, whichever is smaller.

9. Exceptions.

(a) The public accommodations restrictions imposed by section 3 of this order do not
apply to any of the following:

(1) Services necessary for medical treatment as determined by a licensed medical

provider;

(2) Health care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities, and
juvenile justice facilities;

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 (3) Crisis shelters or similar institutions;

(4) Food courts inside the secured zones of airports; and

(5) Employees, contractors, vendors, or suppliers who enter, use, or occupy the
places described in section 3 of this order in their professional capacity.

(b) The 10-person indoor gathering limitation imposed by section 6(a)(2) does not
apply to any of the following:

(1) Aspects of training of law enforcement, medical, or first responder personnel

not capable of being performed remotely;

(2) Polling places.

10. Parks. Unless otherwise prohibited by local regulation, outdoor parks and
recreational facilities may be open, provided that they make any reasonable
modifications necessary to enable employees and patrons not part of the same
household to maintain six feet of distance from one another, and provided that areas
in which social distancing cannot be maintained are closed, subject to guidance
issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

11. Pools. Effective September 9, 2020, unless otherwise prohibited by local regulation,
public swimming pools may be open in all Regions, subject to the rules in the
Workplace Safeguards order (Executive Order 2020-175 or any order that may follow
from it). This section does not apply to waterparks, which are subject to section 3(c)
of this order, except in Regions 6 and 8.

12. Region definitions. For purposes of this order, Michigan comprises eight separate
regions.

(a) Region 1 includes the following counties: Monroe, Washtenaw, Livingston,

Genesee, Lapeer, Saint Clair, Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne.

(b) Region 2 includes the following counties: Mason, Lake, Osceola, Clare, Oceana,
Newaygo, Mecosta, Isabella, Muskegon, Montcalm, Ottawa, Kent, and Ionia.

(c) Region 3 includes the following counties: Allegan, Barry, Van Buren, Kalamazoo,
Calhoun, Berrien, Cass, Saint Joseph, and Branch.

(d) Region 4 includes the following counties: Oscoda, Alcona, Ogemaw, Iosco,
Gladwin, Arenac, Midland, Bay, Saginaw, Tuscola, Sanilac, and Huron.

(e) Region 5 includes the following counties: Gratiot, Clinton, Shiawassee, Eaton,
and Ingham.

(f) Region 6 includes the following counties: Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee,

Roscommon, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Crawford, Leelanau, Antrim,

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 Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Presque Isle, and
Emmet.

(g) Region 7 includes the following counties: Hillsdale, Lenawee, and Jackson.

(h) Region 8 includes the following counties: Gogebic, Ontonagon, Houghton,

Keweenaw, Iron, Baraga, Dickinson, Marquette, Menominee, Delta, Alger,
Schoolcraft, Luce, Mackinac, and Chippewa.

13. Separation of powers. Nothing in this order should be taken to interfere with or
infringe on the powers of the legislative and judicial branches to perform their
constitutional duties or exercise their authority. Similarly, nothing in this order
shall be taken to abridge protections guaranteed by the state or federal constitution
under these emergency circumstances.

14. Religious worship. Consistent with prior guidance, neither a place of religious
worship nor its owner is subject to penalty under section 18 of this order for allowing
religious worship at such place. No individual is subject to penalty under section 18
of this order for engaging in religious worship at a place of religious worship.

15. Consistency with state and federal law. Nothing in this order, or any other
executive order, should be taken to modify, limit, or abridge protections provided by
state or federal law for a person with a disability.

16. Effective date and effect on prior orders. Except as otherwise specified, this
order takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on September 4, 2020. At that time, Executive
Orders 2020-160 and 2020-162 are rescinded, except that nothing in this order shall
be construed to affect any prosecution based on conduct that occurred before the
effective date of this order. Except as otherwise specified, nothing in this order
supersedes any other executive order.

17. Future orders. In determining whether to maintain, intensify, or relax the

restrictions in this order, I will consider, among other factors, (1) data on COVID-19
infections and the disease’s rate of spread; (2) whether sufficient medical personnel,
hospital beds, and ventilators exist to meet anticipated medical need; (3) the
availability of personal protective equipment for the health care workforce; (4) the
state’s capacity to test for COVID-19 cases and isolate infected people; and (5)
economic conditions in the state.

18. Penalty. Consistent with MCL 10.33 and MCL 30.405(3), willful violation of this
order is a misdemeanor.

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Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of Michigan.

Date: September 3, 2020 ___________________________________

GRETCHEN WHITMER
Time: 2:32 pm GOVERNOR

By the Governor:

___________________________________
SECRETARY OF STATE