Governor Whitmer Amends MI Safe Start Order to Limit Indoor Gatherings, Save Lives 

Statewide, bars are closed for indoor service and indoor gatherings are restricted to no more than 10 people 

MASKS ARE REQUIRED

Per recent Executive Order, Michiganders are required to wear a face-covering whenever they are in an indoor public space. It also requires the use of face coverings in crowded outdoor spaces. Businesses open to the public will refuse entry or service to those who decline to wear a face covering.

HOW A MASK WORKS

• How it works

  • COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact.

  • All of us have droplets in coughs and sneezes that can carry COVID-19 to others.

  • Coughs spray droplets at least 6 feet. Sneezes travel as far as 27 feet. Droplets also may spread when we talk or raise our voices.

  • These droplets can land on your face or in your mouth, eyes, and nose.

  • When you wear a mask, it keeps more of your droplets with you.

  • A mask also adds an extra layer of protection between you and other people’s droplets.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer confirmed to Local 4 that the rest of the state won’t be moving to phase five of her coronavirus (COVID-19) reopening plan this week.

Restaurants

Whitmer announced June 1 that she was lifting the stay-at-home order for the entire state. One week later, restaurants are allowed to let customers back inside.

Groups have to stay at least six feet apart, servers have to wear masks and restaurants cannot fill past 50% capacity.

Stay-a-home order lifted

When the stay-at-home order was lifted, Whitmer opened the door for many types of businesses -- both inside and outside -- to resume operations.

Up until June 1, retail businesses were allowed to have up to 10 customers at a time, but all business had to be by appointment. Now customers can shop without appointments, a modification that went into effect Thursday (June 4). Social distancing and safe coronavirus rules will still be enforced.

Day camps for children, as well as pools, can open Monday (June 8), though many of them are deciding to remain closed through the summer. These types of outdoor activities had been a hot topic of discussion as the weather improves in Michigan.

• Michigan’s reopening reaches phase 4 -- here’s the next stage and what it will take to get there

• Why Whitmer thought now was right time to reopen entire state

• Here’s a list of 27 types of businesses that are still closed in Michigan

Under the new order, outdoor high school graduation parties are also allowed, as long as people who don’t live together stay at least six feet apart. Those gatherings can’t exceed 100 people.

Outdoor fitness classes, athletic practices, training sessions, and games are allowed as long as coaches, spectators, and participants not from the same household maintain a distance of six feet from one another at all times, Whitmer said.

That means gyms and fitness centers can hold outdoor classes and workouts as well, but they have to meet the social distancing guidelines.

In-home services, such as house cleaning, are also permitted.

Drive-in movie theaters can open, but indoor theaters remain closed.

Any office workers whose jobs can’t be done remotely may return to the office, effective immediately, Whitmer said.

Gatherings

The governor previously allowed gatherings of up to 10 people on May 21. That’s still the rule for indoor gatherings, but when she lifted the stay-at-home order, Whitmer expanded the size of groups that can gather outside to 100.

In regions six and eight, up to 50 people can gather inside and up to 250 people can gather outside.

Participants must still practice social distancing, Whitmer said. Anyone able to wear a face mask must do so over their nose and mouth when in an enclosed public space, she said.

Coming soon:

Hairstylists, nail salons, massages

Hair, nail, and massage businesses across the state of Michigan will be allowed to reopen on June 15.

Indoor arcades, bowling alleys, cinemas, climbing facilities, convention centers, meeting halls, night clubs, performance spaces, sports arenas, theaters, and similar venues can reopen, under certain restrictions.

What still isn’t open?

Whitmer provided a list of businesses that remain closed in the June 1 executive order that moved the entire state to phase four of her reopening plan.

Here are the businesses that remain closed in every region except for the Upper Peninsula and Traverse City Region (items specified as “indoor” mean only the indoor versions of the businesses are singled out as closed in the executive order):

• Amusement parks

• Arcades

• Bingo halls

• Body art facilities

• Bowling alleys

• Casinos licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board

• Climbing facilities (indoor)

• Dance areas (indoor)

• Exercise facilities (indoor)

• Exercise studios (indoor)

• Fitness centers (indoor)

• Gymnasiums (indoor)

• Millionaire Parties licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board

• Piercing services

• Racetracks licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board

• Recreation centers (indoor)

• Skating rinks

• Sports facilities (indoor)

• Tanning salons

• Tattoo parlors

• Theaters, cinemas, and performance venues (indoor)

• Trampoline parks

The executive order says any indoor services or facilities, or outdoor services or facilities, involving close contact between people for amusement or other recreational or entertainment purposes are closed.

Obviously, some items on this list are being reopened in regions six and eight, since Whitmer moved those regions to phase five of the plan.

Indoor arcades, bowling alleys, cinemas, climbing facilities, convention centers, meeting halls, night clubs, performance spaces, sports arenas, theaters, outdoor concert spaces, race tracks, sports arenas, stadiums, and similar venues are reopening Wednesday (June 10) in the Upper Peninsula and Traverse City Region, as stated above.

Any items on the above bullet point list that are not included in the June 5 reopening announcement for regions six and eight remain closed statewide.

**Courtesy of ClickonDetroit.com, Author Derick Hutchinson

• COVID-19 public health measures still apply in protests. If you have any COVID-19 symptoms stay home! You can donate, send emails, and make calls. You can be fight for reform, responsibly. COVID-19 disproportionately affects black people. If you have symptoms and go to a protest- you are hurting those you want to protect. Stay Home.

  • re will be crowds, and social distancing will not be a feasible measure at all times so wear your mask and gloves! Cover your nose and mouth at all times.The mask is not effective if you put it on under your nose, or under your chin.

  • As a nonblack ally, be conscious of the impact your actions have on your black brothers and sisters. On your undocumented brothers and sisters. On the neighborhoods you are marching through. Are your actions harmful in this situation? If not harmful, are your actions actually helpful? You are afforded privileges they are not. Do not disrupt the communities you are a guest in. Be respectful of the organizers’ requests and attend trainings if offered.

  • Bodily Safety: Protesting is a physically taxing. Dress appropriately. Wear closed-toe shoes, a mask, and goggles. Wear layers. Do not wear contacts, makeup, lotions, and oils-they trap the chemical irritants and agitate you more. Pull back hair in a bun/ponytail. Bring water and snacks with you to stay hydrated and nourished. Keep the phone # of your local ACLU (313) 578-6800 or National Lawyers Guild (313) 925-2626

    • If sprayed with tear gas:

      • If possible, leave the scene immediately.

      • Rinse off skin with cold water first. Flush eyes with cold water. You can use milk to soothe after you rinse with water.

      • Take off layers of clothes that have been contaminated- the irritant can seep through the clothes to your skin.

      • When you get home- take a cold shower.

This is a free bailout program, put together by The Bail Project, National Lawyers Guild, and Michigan Liberation.

Online Form : www.DetroitProtestbailout.com

For Legal Support: 313-925-2626

For Bail Assistance: 313-320-4463 or 248-702-5430

To Donate to the Bail Fund: http://DetroitJustice.org/Donate

“Wayne Metro understands that our communities are facing unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to respond to the immediate needs of Michigan residents, Wayne Metro is implementing our CARES Relief & Recovery Services. Through this new initiative, residents of Wayne County may qualify for assistance in the following areas: Food & income support, water & energy assistance, rent & mortgage assistance, emergency plumbing repair.”

A stimulus check of $1200 will be (or already) sent to most qualifying adults in the United States.

Stimulus Check breakdown:

$1,200 for individuals, $2,400 for married couples who file a joint tax return. Payments will also include $500 for each dependent child under the age of 17.

Click here to check the status of your stimulus check.

Stay home, stay MIndful.

“To the people of Michigan: staying inside isn’t always easy, but Governor Whitmer and Headspace are here for you during these challenging times. Now more than ever, it’s important to take care of yourselves and one another while each of us stays home and stays safe.

This special collection of meditation, sleep, and movement exercises below are designed to help you keep a strong and healthy mind in the midst of this global health crisis. All Michiganders — from the shores of Lake Superior to the streets of Detroit — will get through this together.”

On March 18, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which provided additional flexibility for state unemployment insurance agencies and additional administrative funding to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law on March 27. It expands states’ ability to provide unemployment insurance for many workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including for workers who are not ordinarily eligible for unemployment benefits.

Limited appointments for coronavirus testing are now available to patients who qualify.

Check out local food pantry resources in the Greater Detroit Area. Food assistance list from Councilwoman Raquel Castaneda-Lopez.

“We have made tremendous progress in fighting COVID-19 in Michigan. Our medical workers, first responders, and other critical workers have put their lives on the line for us every day, and we owe it to them to do whatever we can to stop the spread of the virus.” Check out Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s plan to re-engage Michigan’s economy.

Largest online directory of free and affordable health clinics. Most clinics listed in our database receive federal grants, state subsidies, or are owned and operated by non-profit organizations and provide services that are either free or at a reduced rate.

Restaurant workers, gig workers and other hourly workers are facing unprecedented economic hardship from the coronavirus crisis. It’s our turn to serve them.

If you’re a restaurant worker and need financial assistance, apply here.

Helping our neighbors in a time of need is a top priority for us. We believe that small businesses are an essential part of keeping our communities thriving and we are committed to providing relief and peace of mind for businesses facing hardship during this challenging time. TCF Bank and Wayne County are working together to provide fast relief through micro-loans, to help small businesses with the effects of COVID-19.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services launched a statewide mental health hotline for Michigan. The hotline will connect individuals with certified peer support specialists who have lived experiences of behavioral health issues, trauma or personal crises, and are trained to support and empower the callers.

Available 7 days/week from 10 AM - 2 AM

☎: 888-PEER-753 (888-733-7753)

#MichiganMuslims is a partnership of various organizers, institutions and relief organizations based in Michigan. If you are looking to volunteer and/or provide COVID-19 aid, sign up today!