Executive Orders: What Number Are We up To?

July 23, 2020

Wondering if anyone else out there in library land is finding it hard to remember what Executive Orders we are now paying attention to? We started this conversation back on March 16th with EO 2020-09 and from then until now, there have been over 150 and we are still climbing the ladder. Since that time, MLA has continued to stay on top of the Executive Orders that affect our work, and while it is good to note that many Executive Orders have been rescinded over the past 4 months, we continue to confuse ourselves every day by what number is or isn’t still in effect. 

We thought it would be helpful to bring you up to speed quickly and succinctly on which ones are still in front of us as of July 23, 2020, with links to those that we continue to follow. 

And just so you don’t think we’ve forgotten, we continue to wait to see if Governor Whitmer will release the recommendations from the Library and Museum work group. To date, we haven’t seen anything publicly, nor heard from her staff about the release of this document (and truthfully, nothing in this document will come as a surprise or negate the work you have already done to reopen.) 

Here is a short recap of the Executive Orders we continue to follow:

EO 2020-110: Temporary restrictions on certain events, gatherings, and businesses (June 1, 2020) 

Governor Whitmer moved the state to Stage 4 of the Michigan Safe Start Plan. As a result, Michiganders are no longer required to stay home. Businesses that must remain closed were specified in this Executive Order. Any work that is capable of being performed remotely must be performed remotely. Under this order, libraries may reopen fully on June 8. Other businesses and activities that necessarily involve close contact and shared surfaces, including gyms, hair salons, indoor theaters, tattoo parlors, casinos, and similar establishments, will remain closed for the time being. Michiganders must continue to wear face coverings when in enclosed public spaces and should continue to take all reasonable precautions to protect themselves, their co-workers, their loved ones, and their communities. Indoor social gatherings and events of more than 10 people are prohibited. Outdoor social gatherings and events are permitted so long as people maintain six feet of distance from one another and the assemblage consists of no more than 100 people.

EO 2020-115: Temporary restrictions on certain events, gatherings, and businesses (June 5, 2020) 

This Executive Order moved Regions 6 and 8 to Stage 5 of the Michigan Safe Start Plan as of June 10. Some businesses that are not allowed to open in the rest of the state are permitted to reopen in Region 6 and 8, subject to strict workplace safeguards. Indoor social gatherings and organized events of up to 50 people will be allowed, as will outdoor social gatherings and organized events of up to 250 people.

EO 2020-145: Safeguards to protect Michigan’s workers from COVID-19  

This Executive Order addressed the need for businesses to adopt high standards of cleaning and protection for their employees, their patrons, and their communities. Many businesses have already created reopening plans by implementing robust safeguards to prevent viral transmission. This Executive Order also addressed libraries directly and lumped them in with retail stores that are open for in-store sales.

EO 2020-151: Declaration of the State of Emergency and state of disaster-related to the COVID-19 pandemic effective immediately and continuing through August 11, 2020, at 11:59 pm

EO 2020-153: Mask Wearing which took effect at 12:01 am on Monday, July 13. To protect workers, shoppers, and the community, no business that is open to the public may provide service to a customer or allow a customer to enter its premises, unless the customer is wearing a face covering as required by this order. This order clarifies that businesses may not assume that an unmasked customer cannot medically tolerate a face covering, though they may accept a customer’s verbal representation to that effect. Any individual who leaves their home or place of residence must wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when in any indoor public space, when outdoors and unable to consistently maintain 6 or more feet, and when on public transportation.

EO 2020-154: Allows public bodies subject to the Open Meetings Act, including boards, commissions, committees, subcommittees, authorities, councils and nonprofit boards, to use telephone or video-conferencing methods to continue meeting and conducting business during the COVID-19 public health crisis, so long as they follow certain procedures to ensure meaningful access and participation by members of the public body and the general public.