After a brief pause in which the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) had stated it would not immediately adopt recently-updated CDC guidelines for COVID-19 quarantine and isolation, the MDHHS announced Friday, December 31 that it will update Michigan’s quarantine and isolation guidelines applicable to the general public to align with the new CDC guidelines.

Regarding this change, MDHHS stated: “The updated guidance is specific to the general public and does not change the current guidance recommendations for congregate settings, early childcare or K-12 settings – these settings should continue to use existing guidelines and policies regarding quarantine and isolation.”

Although MDHHS did not define “congregate settings,” it is likely, based on previous and CDC guidance, that the term applies to congregate living settings such as nursing homes, group homes, and correctional facilities. Michigan employers should continue to monitor MDHHS publications for the promised updated guidelines, as these may provide further clarity, and because rules are evolving quickly in the current changing environment.