Gov. Whitmer laid out plans Monday for the partial reopening of Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Her plan includes a go-slow approach that will have restaurants and bars operating at half capacity, tables must be spread out to ensure at least six feet of separation between parties and masks will be required for all who enter.

Starting today, two regions — which includes 17 northern Michigan counties and the entire Upper Peninsula — will be among the areas to see relief from some restrictions.

Restaurants and bars must also close self-serve areas like drink stations, food buffets and salad bars. Waiting areas will be closed too. Restaurants must ask customers to wait in their car until their table is ready.

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The number of COVID-19 deaths in Michigan reported Sunday, May 17, is the lowest since late March.

Figures from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) showed 11 deaths and 638 cases on Sunday, May 17. The amount of deaths is the lowest since March 24, when nine were reported by MDHHS.

The youngest person to die from COVID-19 in Michigan so far was age 5, with the oldest person at 107. The average ago of those who have died from the virus is just over 75 years old.

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Gov. Whitmer first learned the coronavirus had come to Michigan on March 10, with the confirmation of two cases in metro Detroit, internal emails show.

Since then, state officials have learned there already were likely 500 infected in Michigan at that time. And Nearly 10,000 people in Michigan were likely infected on March 24, when Whitmer issued her first stay-at-home order — more than five times the number of illnesses known at the time.

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As Michigan businesses are allowed to reopen in-person operations, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration is requiring workplaces to follow safety guidelines to protect their employees and limit the spread of COVID-19.

Under a new executive order, businesses resuming in-person work are required to put together a COVID-19 preparedness and response plan and make it available to customers and staff by June 1. Businesses are also required to provide COVID-19 training to workers, covering workplace infection-control practices, proper use of personal protective equipment, how to report unsafe work conditions and steps to take to notify the business of any COVID-19 symptoms or a diagnosis.

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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-89, further extending enhanced price gouging restrictions during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

To ensure front-line workers and all Michiganders have access to necessary products during the public health crisis, EO 2020-89 extends restrictions on excessive pricing of goods, materials, emergency supplies and consumer food items.

Consistent with prior executive orders on price gouging, the order prohibits a person from selling any product more than 20% higher than what the person offered or charged for that product as of the date prior to the governor’s first state of emergency order (March 9), unless it is not an emergency supply and costs more than $1,000.

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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-90, which allows laboratory research to resume under stringent precautionary measures.

The Safer at Home order allows some previously suspended work and activities to resume based on an evaluation of public health metrics and an assessment of the statewide risks and benefits. This now includes laboratory research.

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Gov. Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-93 extending her pervious order which gives pharmacists increased operational capacity and expands access to prescriptions for Michiganders who need them.

EO 2020-93 continues to allow pharmacists to dispense emergency refills of prescriptions for up to 60 days’ worth of supply for patients and require insurers to cover early refills for up to 90 days’ worth of supply during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The order will also allow pharmacists to dispense COVID-19 treatments according to government-approved protocols.

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Yesterday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-96 to reopen retail businesses and auto dealerships by appointment only statewide beginning Tuesday, May 26. The governor’s executive order also lifts the requirement that health care providers delay some nonessential medical, dental, and veterinary procedures statewide beginning on Friday, May 29.

The order authorizes small gatherings of 10 people or less starting immediately, as long as participants practice social distancing.

Additional information on the governor’s executive orders and other state news can be found here.