Michigan Governor Extends Stay-Home Order To May 28
MICHIGAN — Michigan's stay-home order has been extended to May 28, while the governor announced she is allowing manufacturing workers to return to work.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order Thursday extending the state's stay-home order to May 28. The order also allows manufacturing employees to return to work, opening the door for employees at Michigan's Big 3 auto manufacturers to return to work on May 11.
“This is good news for our state, our businesses, and our working families,” Whitmer said. “We’re not out of the woods yet, but this is an important step forward on our MI Safe Start plan to re-engage our economy safely and responsibly. As we continue to phase in sectors of our economy, I will keep working around the clock to ensure our businesses adopt best practices to protect workers from the spread of COVID-19. When we all keep doing our part, we can reduce the risk of a second wave and re-engage our economy safely and responsibly.”
As the governor extended her order, Michigan experienced another day in which it reported fewer than 1,000 new cases of the virus. The state's case total is over 45,000.
Under the order, manufacturing facilities must adopt measures to protect their workers from the spread of the coronavirus. Those measures includes conducting a daily entry screening protocol for workers and everyone else entering the facility, including a questionnaire covering symptoms and exposure to people with the coronavirus, together with a temperature screening as soon as no-touch thermometers can be obtained. They must also create dedicated entry points at every facility and suspend entry of all nonessential in-person visits.
“Governor Whitmer has brought together leaders in business and labor to ensure our workers can return to the job safely," said John Walsh, president and CEO of the Michigan Manufacturers Association. "The safety of our workers is our top priority, and I am confident that Michigan manufacturers are prepared to deliver on the worker protections included in today's order. We believe the manufacturing industry has a big role to play in Michigan's economic recovery, and we're ready to lead the way. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the governor to bring the manufacturing industry back up to full strength.”
Manufacturing facilities must also train workers on how the coronavirus is transmitted from person to person, signs and symptoms of the virus, steps workers must take to notify the business or operation of signs and symptoms of the coronavirus or suspected or confirmed diagnosis, and the use of personal protective equipment.
All businesses in the state—including manufacturers—must require masks to be worn when workers cannot consistently maintain at least 6 feet of separation from others, and consider face shields for those who cannot consistently maintain at least 3 feet of separation from other workers.
This article originally appeared on the Detroit Patch
