Governor Signs Stay Home, Stay Safe Order
Bay County, Michigan – Governor Whitmer announced today a Stay Home, Stay Safe Executive Order. This order directs all Michigan business and operations to temporarily suspend in-person operations that are not necessary to sustain or protect life. The Stay Home, Stay Safe Executive Order becomes effective at 12:01 on March 24, 2020 and will be in effect for three weeks.
During this time, individuals may only leave their home or place of residence for very limited reasons. If you do have to leave your residence, you must adhere to social distancing guidelines, which includes remaining at least six feet away from people.
Businesses and operations that employ critical infrastructure workers may continue in-person operations, but must adhere to social distancing practices and mitigation strategies to protect workers and patrons, including the promotion of remote work to the fullest extent possible and preventing workers from entering the premises if they display respiratory symptoms. Included in the list of critical infrastructure workers are restaurant employees and childcare workers, as restaurants can continue to provide carry-out/delivery food service and day cares can continue to operate to serve the children or dependents of critical infrastructure workers. Gas stations and grocery stores are also able to remain open for people to use. The full news release and Executive Order can be found at www.michigan.gov/coronavirus.
In addition, all public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring among persons outside a single household are temporarily prohibited. People may leave the house for limited, necessary purposes, and may engage in outdoor activities like walking, hiking, running, cycling, or any other recreational activity, consistent with remaining at least six feet from people from outside a person’s household and with other restrictions imposed by prior executive orders.
“We know that coronavirus is in our community and we must do our part to flatten the curve, to protect our residents, and ensure that our hospitals and health systems do not become overwhelmed,” says Joel Strasz, Public Health Officer of Bay County Health Department. “We must adhere the Stay Home, Stay Safe order given by Governor Whitmer.”
If you have questions regarding the Stay at Home, Stay Safe order, please refer to the Governors Executive order located at www.michigan.gov/coronavirus. If you have any further questions please submit them to the Bay County Public Information Officer email at pio@baycounty.net. The US Department of Homeland Security has provided Guidance and clarification on essential workers.
In order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, please follow these recommendations from the Center of Disease Control:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid handshakes.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
- IF YOU ARE SICK, STAY HOME.
For the latest and most accurate information regarding the COVID-19 please go to the Bay County Health Department website at www.baycounty-mi.gov/Health and the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.
###
Attachments