WAYNE COUNTY (WXYZ) — Wayne County issued Thursday a new emergency public health order to help slow the spread of COVID-19. A release states that the order echoes the orders first presented by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration.
“We are keeping the COVID-19 rules and regulations in place from before the Michigan Supreme Court ruled on the governor’s authority to issue them,” Wayne County Executive Warren Evans said. “Wayne County’s order is simple: keep wearing masks in public; no group events larger than 10 people or 20 percent attendance per 1,000 square-feet of space; and, employers must still provide health screenings for employees working in public areas or with the public. These are the rules we are accustomed to and they are the rules we are going to follow until there is clearer direction from the state.”
The emergency order is immediately in effect, and will likely remain in effect until at least Oct. 23, a release states.
Additionally, the county requires residents and businesses under jurisdiction of the Wayne County Public Health Department to:
- Continue wearing face masks while in public spaces;
- Limit group events to 10 people or less, or in the case of arena or entertainment event
with fixed seating, limit attendance to 20 percent of the venue’s seating capacity to allowfor social distancing;
- Continue protections for residents of long-term care facilities; and,
- Screen employees for COVID-19 symptoms.
Schools in Wayne County must also continue to follow the state's Return to School plan.
The county says the measures will continue to be enforced and violations will be subject to citation and penalties.
“Wayne County residents and businesses recognize the importance these health safety measures play in reducing the spread of COVID-19, and we have seen strong compliance across our 43 communities,” Evans said. “This order just makes it clear that Wayne County is going
to continue with the public health safety rules everyone is accustomed to and that are showing
results in slowing the spread of this disease.”
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.
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