Michigan Updates Mask Mandate Rules

If you were listening to the Banana this morning, you probably heard talking about how relieved I was that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased up on their mask guidelines which would allow people who are fully vaccinated to stop wearing masks (for the most part). As soon as I mentioned that on the air someone called and quickly reminded me that Michigan was exempt because of our current state mask mandate. I went from relief to being mad right away.

Literally, while I was writing this, Michigan announced they would now follow the CDC's guidelines.

A new announcement was made today regarding masks in Michigan.

According to MLive, Gretchen Whitmer’s office announced today that beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 15, Michiganders will no longer be required to wear a mask outdoors in any setting. Individuals who are fully vaccinated will no longer need to wear a mask indoors, while those who have not been fully vaccinated must continue to wear a face-covering indoors until July 1. This is truly the best news we've seen in a while.

Gov Whitmer:

The message is clear: vaccines work to protect you and your loved ones. If you have not yet received your vaccine, now is the time to sign up. This pandemic has been one of the toughest challenges of our lifetimes, but we came together as a state to persevere. We have all been working incredibly hard toward getting back to some sense of normalcy, and today’s news makes all of that work worthwhile.

Get our free mobile app

Michigan mask mandate prior to the new announcement

As you're well aware, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer set the threshold to lift the mask mandate in Michigan when we reach 70% of the 16 and older population being partially vaccinated. Not to mention an additional two weeks. That was going to be really tough to hit and we would have been lucky to reach that goal by the end of summer.