Consistent with her goal to gradually reopen businesses in the state while continuing to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Michigan, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued Executive Orders (EOs) 2020-96 and 2020-97 to permit additional businesses to resume operations if they meet certain, substantial requirements.

These EOs rescind EO 2020-91 and EO 2020-92. Moreover, previously, on May 15, 2020, EO 2020-90 was signed, allowing research laboratories to resume operations, but EO 2020-97 institutes additional restrictions on those operations.

Importantly, businesses resuming operations are subject to specific restrictions, capacity limits, and training requirements.

Resumed Business Activities

Effective May 22, 2020, Governor Whitmer’s Office is allowing workers who perform the following services to resume work:

• Workers in Region 6 (Traverse City Region) and Region 8 (Michigan’s Upper Peninsula) necessary to perform retail activities, defined as the selling of goods and rendering of services incidental to the sale of goods (subject to the restrictions in EO 2020-69).

• Workers in Region 6 and Region 8 who work in an office setting, but only to the extent that such work is not capable of being performed remotely.

• Workers in Region 6 and Region 8 who work in restaurants and bars (subject to specific restrictions and capacity limits).

Effective May 26, 2020, Governor Whitmer’s Office is allowing workers who perform the following services to resume work:

• Workers at motor vehicle dealerships, provided that showrooms are open only by appointment.

• Workers necessary to perform retail activities by appointment (subject to specific restrictions and capacity limits and the restrictions in EO 2020-69).

Effective May 29, 2020, the restrictions requiring the postponement of veterinary, medical, and dental procedures will be lifted, subject to the rules and limits set forth in EO 2020-97.

Expanded Social Gathering

Effective May 21, 2020, Michigan residents may attend social gathering of no more than 10 people, in addition to traveling to resumed businesses.