Whitmer Signs New Order Strengthening Face Mask Rules

MICHIGAN — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday signed an executive order strengthening a previous order requiring Michiganders to wear masks when inside indoor public spaces.

The new order clarifies that businesses may not assume that an unmasked customer cannot medically tolerate a face covering, though they can accept a customer’s verbal representation to that effect. It also requires public safety officers to wear a face covering unless doing so would seriously interfere in the performance of their responsibilities, and clarifies that wearing a mask at a polling place for purposes of voting in an election is not required, but strongly encouraged.

“Wearing a mask is the right thing to do to protect our families, our businesses, and our economy,” Whitmer said in a statement. “If everyone in Michigan masks up, we can save thousands of lives and put ourselves in a better position to send our kids back to school in the fall. For the safety of our loved ones and our dedicated first responders on the front lines: mask up, Michigan.”

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Exceptions To The Order

Although a face covering is strongly encouraged even for people who are not required to wear one, the requirement to wear a face covering does not apply to individuals in these instances:

• If a person is 5 year old or younger they do not need to wear a mask
• If the person cannot medically tolerate a face covering
• Are eating or drinking while seated at a food service establishment
• Are exercising when wearing a face covering would interfere in the activity

• Are at a polling place for purposes of voting in an election

Over the past two weeks, every region in Michigan has seen an uptick in new cases, and daily case counts now exceed 20 cases per million in all but one region in the state, Whitmer said.

Whitmer's office has said that wearing a mask decreases the chances of spreading the virus by around 70 percent.