Michigan Lifts Camp Restrictions; Adds 8 New Coronavirus Deaths

MICHIGAN — Kids in Michigan can go to camp after Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday announced the signing of an executive order that lifts restrictions on overnight residential, travel and troop camps Monday. The order also allows kids to go to some K-12 school sports activities.

“As we’ve worked together to bend the curve and protect our families from COVID-19, our kids have lost time in the classroom and missed out on playdates, birthday parties and graduations," Whitmer said. "That’s why I’m glad they’ll have an opportunity to spend a week or weekend away at camp. This is another significant milestone for Michigan as we continue to slowly and safely reopen our economy, and I want to thank Michiganders for doing their part to flatten the curve.

"While this is good news, there’s still more work to do to protect Michigan families from the spread of this virus, avoid a second wave, and protect the heroes on the front lines. We will get through this together.”

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The move is the latest in a series of steps the state has taken toward a return to normalcy during the coronavirus pandemic. After reporting 125 new cases of the coronavirus and 8 new deaths Friday, the state has confirmed 59,621 total cases of the virus and 5,745 deaths attributed to it.

Related: Aggressive Actions To Stop Coronavirus Spread Worked: Whitmer

Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-120 Friday, requiring camps to follow guidelines issued by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs in collaboration with public health experts. The guidelines will be released in coming days, Whitmer's office said.

The order also allows certain K-12 school sports activities and other in-person extracurricular school activities to resume. Such activities, however, are permitted only to the extent that they are consistent with rules requiring social distancing and, across most of the state, the closure of indoor exercise facilities.

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