Agency issues newmask restrictions
LANSING » Michigan’s health department issued a mask requirement and other coronavirus restrictions Monday, just days after the state Supremecourt invalidated a 75-year- old emergency powers law that underpinned Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s orders to control the pandemic.
The Democratic governor separately asked the court to declare its Friday ruling not binding until Oct. 30, to give her administration, the Republican-led Legislature and local health departments time to transition. GOP leaders questioned delaying the court’s decision and prepared to return to session to codify an undetermined number of her 30plus orders into law, such as one extending base unemployment benefits to 26 weeks from 20 weeks.
The ruling nullified all virus-related orders issued after April 30.
It means Whitmer must negotiate with lawmakers to extend a state of emergency and any new orders she writes.
However, the administration can control an epidemic under a 1978 public health law that was not at issue in the case, though its authority is narrower.
Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon required the wearing of masks at nonresidential indoor and outdoor gatherings and limited gathering sizes.
“We know that masks work. It’s on all of us to do our part and to have some personal responsibility keeping ourselves, our families and our economy going,” Whitmer told reporters following a campaign event for a lawmaker in Davison.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey has made clear he opposes putting a mask requirement into law. Onmonday, he also resisted codifying limits on restaurant capacity, gatherings and event sizes. He pointed to increased testing and the improved treatment of the infected since the pandemic’s early days.
Shirkey said there is “no way” businesses, nonprofits and schools would want to put people at risk. “Based on seven months of daily learnings, I think everybody’s pretty well prepared now to make those kinds of decisions for their own unique circumstances,” he said.