News - Advocacy
Friday, October 02, 2020 12:00 AM

Executive Orders: Updates

October 2, 2020

MLA continues to follow the Governor's Executive Orders to monitor their impact on libraries. Here is the status and a short recap of Executive Orders of note to libraries as of October 2, 2020.

EO 2020-192 - Moving Region 8 to Phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan (effective October 9, 2020, at 12:01am)

This Executive Order amends EO 2020-183 to include the Upper Peninsula (Region 8) in its restrictions with Regions 1-5 and 7.   Specifically it addresses: any work capable of being performed remotely must be performed remotely and limits venues with fixed seating to 20% of seating capacity.  It also limits attendance in the Upper Peninsula to 20 people per 1,000 square feet of venue space, including no more than 20 people per 1,000 square feet in each room. This Executive Order also amends EO 2020-184 removing the Upper Peninsula (Region 8) from Section 6(c)

EO 2020-186 - Declaration of the State of Emergency and state of disaster-related to the COVID-19 pandemic effective immediately and continuing through October 27, 2020, at 11:59 pm.

EO 2020-184 - Safeguards to Protect Michigan’s Workers from COVID-19 

Businesses must continue to do their part to protect their employees, their patrons, and their communities. Many businesses have already done so by implementing robust safeguards to prevent viral transmission. This Executive Order provides workplace standards that apply to all businesses across the state and now includes sports venues, movie theaters, gyms and other entertainment venues. This Executive Order changes occupancy limits for buildings over 50,000 square feet to 20 people per 1,000 square feet in all regions. It also updates occupancy limits for building less than 50,000 square feet in Regions 1-5 and 7 to 25% occupancy and in Regions 6 and 8, there are no occupancy limits OTHER THAN meeting/gathering limits as specified in EO 2020-183 and limiting occupancy to number of people that can occupy the building with 6 feet of social distancing.

EO 2020-183 – Safe Start Order (to take effect October 9, 2020 – at that time, EO 2020-176, EO 2020-180 and EO 2020-181 will be rescinded)

In this and in prior rescinded Executive Orders, Michiganders are no longer required to stay home. Businesses that must remain closed are specified in this Executive Order. Any work that is capable of being performed remotely must be performed remotely except in Regions 6 and 8. Under one of the past orders that this one replaced, libraries were able to reopen on June 8 and provide in-person services.  This Executive Order amends social gatherings and organized events with fixed seating and non-fixed seating (of most concern to libraries.)

Beginning October 9, 2020, events held in library meeting or event rooms, such as group meetings, board meetings, programs, etc. that meet the definition of “ organized event or social gathering” as listed in EO 2020-183 and its FAQ, must have limited attendance in Regions 1-5 and 7 - to 20 people per 1000 square foot or one person for every 50 square foot of space. In Regions 6 and 8 the limits are 25 people per 1,000 square foot or one person for every 40 square foot of space.

EO 2020-172 - Protecting workers who stay home, stay safe when they or their close contacts are sick

This Executive Order prohibits employers from discharging, disciplining, or retaliating against employees who make the responsible choice to stay home when they or their close contacts are sick. Under this Executive Order, employers must treat employees who stay home when they are sick as if he or she were taking medical leave.

EO 2020-154 - Alternative means to conduct government business during the COVID-19 pandemic

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.

EO 2020-153 - Mask Wearing (in effect 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 six or more feet, and when on public transportation.

 

 


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