U-M Students Under Stay Home Order: Washtenaw County Health Dept.

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI — Washtenaw County health officials are issuing a stay in place order for University of Michigan undergraduate students effective immediately and continuing through Nov. 3.

The county health department announced the move Tuesday citing the increasing number of COVID-19 cases among U-M students. The number of U-M students who have tested positive for the coronavirus represents more than 60 percent of local cases, officials said.

“The situation locally has become critical, and this order is necessary to reverse the current increase in cases,” Washtenaw County Health Officer Jimena Loveluck said. “We must continue to do what we can to minimize the impact on the broader community and to ensure we have the public health capacity to fully investigate cases and prevent additional spread of illness.”

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Stay in place orders are intended to limit socializing among students, slow down new cases, and allow for effective case investigation and contact tracing, the health department said. Most infections are the result of social events and gatherings.

Under the newly issued stay in place order, undergraduate students must remain in their residence, unless attending class, accessing dining services, or carrying out approved work that cannot be done remotely. Students who wish to return to a primary residence may do so only if they have completed the U-M’s procedures for leaving campus safely.

Under existing state orders, everyone must continue to separate themselves from others not already in their household by at least 6 feet and wear a face covering when out in public or in common areas.

A stay in place order is not the same as quarantine, officials said, explaining that during the stay in place order, official and essential activities are allowable when carried out using COVID-19 prevention measures including wearing face coverings, social distancing and frequent hand cleaning. While this order allows students to work and participate in official activities with preventive measures in place, it also limits the impact of exposures on local businesses, workers and community members.

In support of the county order, the university is taking steps to provide choices for students and instructors, including moving more undergraduate courses to fully remote instruction for the remainder of the fall semester, according to a news release.

“The university has been working closely with the Health Department all along in response to the pandemic and supports this decision to issue this stay at home order,” U-M University Health Service Executive Director Robert Ernst said. “This action is intended to reduce the strain on our capacities for contact tracing and quarantine and isolation housing. Many individuals and off-campus residences are cooperating fully, and we hope this additional guidance on limiting social activities reverses the trend of increased cases related to social gatherings.”

Violations of the local order are subject to the citations and penalties outlined in the Michigan Public Health Code (MCL 333.2451 and 333.2453).

Washtenaw County has reported a total of 4,229 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 19, officials said.

More than 600 confirmed and probable cases have been reported in Washtenaw County in the past week (since Oct. 12), and 61 percent of those case are connected to University of Michigan students living on or off campus, many in congregate or group settings, the health department said.