Update on Executive Orders and COVID-19 Library Closures

May 28, 2020

The status of Governor Whitmer’s Executive Orders continue to happen fast and some days unexpectedly. A special shout out to Clare Membiela from the Library of Michigan for all the work she has done to read them, analyze them and then publish on their website, so all of us can gain insight into what we should take into consideration and many times don’t necessarily need to pay attention to.

Right now, we are watching for any further direction from the Governor’s office on four Executive Orders and also waiting for word about the library advisory work group that has been announced but yet to have been put into play. When we know more, we will share this with the Michigan library community.

The four Executive Orders are:

EO 2020-100 – Extends the Stay Safe, Stay Home order and the Temporary Restrictions on the Use of Places of Public Accommodation to June 12, 2020. This is an extension of 2020-96 and 2020-69 described below.

EO 2020-96 – Temporary Requirement to Suspend Certain Activities that are Not Necessary to Sustain or Protect Life. (rescission of 2020-17, 2020-34, 2020-77 and 2020-92)

• This Executive Order added non-emergency medical, veterinary, dental, and motor vehicle sales to the industries able to resume operations, with restrictions.

• Retail businesses are permitted to re-open with occupancy restrictions.

• Added language differentiates between retail and public accommodation entities.

• Permits gatherings of up to 10 people, following social distancing.

• No changes to library operations from EO 2020-92

Prior EO’s included the following amendments to allow a regional approach to reopening.

• MERC Regions 6 & 8 (covering the UP and the Northern portion of the Mitten) have been specifically permitted to begin restricted openings of bars, restaurants, retail activities, and offices

• Bars and restaurants in regions 6 & 8 may re-open and operate under capacity restraints and social distancing/sanitation requirements listed in EO 2020-91.

• Offices may bring workers back only to complete tasks that CANNOT be completed remotely.

• Workers necessary to perform retail activities may return, also under requirements listed in EO 2020-91.

• Workers necessary to prepare a workplace to follow the workplace standards described in Executive Order 2020-91. (EO 2020-92 section 11(o)). In other words, workplaces can conduct activities necessary to prepare their workplaces to comply with standards outlined in EO 2020-91(Install plexiglass panels, install signage, etc.).

EO 2020-97 – Safeguards to protect Michigan’s workers from COVID-19 (recission of 2020-91)

• add requirements for in-store retail, medical, veterinary, and dental services/workplaces

• The prior EO requires workplaces that are resuming activities to comply with certain sanitary and social distancing protocols and policies in order to create and maintain a workplace that mitigates the risk of an employee or customer from contracting or spreading Covid-19. Part of the order requires every employer bringing workers back to have in place a Covid-19 Preparedness Plan. The contents of the preparedness plan (the policies and procedures to be implemented) must be consistent with the recommendations in the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) publication, Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19. This plan must be completed and available to employees, labor unions and customers within 2 weeks after the employer resumes activities. In ADDITION to preparing a plan, the workplace must at very least comply with measures described in sections 1(b) through 1(q). The EO contains additional measures specific to certain industries. Libraries are not mentioned, but it is possible that as more industries are permitted to resume activities, additional tailored measures may be released.

EO 2020-69 – Temporary Restrictions on the Use of Places of Public Accommodation (recission of 2020-43 and 2020-09)

• To restrict public gatherings and interactions, specifically “ingress, egress, use and occupancy by members of the public” in order to mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Libraries are listed specifically as one of the places of public accommodation to be closed to the public.