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 or antiviral treatment 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, MCL 30.401 et seq., and the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945, 1945 PA 302, as amended, MCL 10.31 et seq.
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 Emergency Powers of the Governor Act, as well as Executive Order 2020-68 to issue new emergency and disaster declarations under the Emergency Management Act.
The Emergency Management Act 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). Similarly, the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945 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).
Executive Order 2020-7 imposed such restrictions. Executive Order 2020-37 clarified those restrictions and extended their duration. This order extends them further, as they remain reasonable and necessary to protect the health and safety of this state and its residents from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Acting under the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and Michigan law, I order the following:
- Effective immediately and continuing through May 31, 2020 at 11:59 pm, all health care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities, and juvenile justice facilities must prohibit from entering their facilities any visitors that: are not necessary for the provision of medical care, the support of activities of daily living, or the exercise of power of attorney or court-appointed guardianship for an individual under the facility’s care; are not a parent, foster parent, or guardian of an individual who is 21 years of age or under and who is under the facility’s care; are not visiting an individual under the facility’s care that is in serious or critical condition or in hospice care; and are not visiting under exigent circumstances or for the purpose of performing official governmental functions.
- Effective immediately and continuing through May 31, 2020 at 11:59 pm, all health care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities, and juvenile justice facilities must perform a health evaluation of all individuals that are not under the care of the facility each time the individual seeks to enter the facility, and must deny entry to those individuals who do not meet the evaluation criteria. The evaluation criteria must include: symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath; and contact in the last 14 days with someone with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19.
- Effective immediately and continuing through May 31, 2020 at 11:59 pm, all staff members and visitors of a residential care facility, congregate care facility, or juvenile justice facility must wear a covering over their nose and mouth when indoors or within six feet of another person.
- While the restrictions of this order are in place, all health care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities, and juvenile justice facilities must make best efforts to facilitate visitations with individuals under their care by phone or other electronic communication platforms to the fullest extent possible, consistent with normal visitation policies.
- For purposes of this order, “residential care facilities” includes, but is not limited to, homes for the aged, nursing homes, adult foster care facilities, hospice facilities, substance abuse disorder residential facilities, independent living facilities, and assisted living facilities.
- Consistent with MCL 10.33 and MCL 30.405(3), a willful violation of this order shall constitute a misdemeanor.
- Executive Order 2020-37 is rescinded.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of Michigan.
Click to view the full PDF of the executive order.
