Publication

17 March 2020

Temporary Ban on Large Gatherings Revised to Limit Gatherings to 50 People and Exclude Private Workspaces and Other Essential Public Spaces

***Information and guidance in client updates was up to date at time of publication. During the pandemic, information and guidance has been changing rapidly. If you have any questions about the information contained in a client update, please contact the author(s) or your Miller Johnson attorney.***

On March 16, 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-11, temporarily banning large gatherings of more than 50 people in a single indoor shared space beginning at 9:00am on March 17, 2020 and ending on Sunday, April 5 at 5:00p.m. The updated EO also clarifies that the prohibition does not apply to private workspaces, health care facilities, the state legislature, or gatherings for the purpose of mass transit, the purchase of groceries or consumer goods, or the performance of agricultural or construction work.

This Executive Order rescinds and replaces a previously issued Executive Order, which prohibited gatherings of more than 250 people.

Why is this important for employers?

  • For employers operating in private workspaces, the updated EO also clarifies that the prohibition does not apply to workplaces or portions of workplaces that are not open to the public.
  • For employers operating in workspaces open to the public, the updated EO further limits the number of individuals who can gather in a single indoor shared space.

All employers should continue to evaluate changes to their operations to support the “social distancing” measures recommended by the CDC.  Currently those include avoiding groups of more than 10 people and maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet from another person.

If you have any questions or concerns about whether and how your operations may be impacted by this Order, please contact your Miller Johnson attorney promptly.

The full 2020-11 Executive Order can be found here: https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_90705-521890–,00.html