More Michigan COVID-19 Restrictions Could Be Eased Soon

LANSING, MI — Michigan could take "greater steps" in its return to normalcy amid the coronavirus pandemic, with state officials saying they expect an announcement in the coming days or week that further COVID-19 restrictions could be relaxed.

“We know that the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines are the best way for people to protect themselves," a spokesperson with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's office told Patch on Wednesday. "That’s why Governor Whitmer originally launched the MI Vacc to Normal plan to encourage vaccinations and set a clear path back to normal.

"With the CDC recommending that fully vaccinated people can safely return to normal life, we feel confident that our state can begin taking even greater steps to get back to normal now that a majority of Michiganders have received their vaccine."

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More than 878,000 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Michigan as of Tuesday, with 18,710 COVID-19 deaths having been reported. But when Michigan will move forward to plans to relax its COVID-19 restrictions is based less on the number of positive COVID-19 tests being reported and more on the number of people receiving COVID-19 vaccinations, officials have previously said.

According to Michigan's MI Vacc To Normal plan, capacity limits will increase at banquet halls, conference centers, stadiums and other public settings when 60 percent of people have received the vaccine.

The 60 percent vaccination mark would be the second step in the plan. The first milestone was 55 percent, which was reached previously and allowed people who work in offices to return to in-person work.

The state on Saturday ended its mask mandate for fully vaccinated people in order to align with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's latest guidance on face coverings. More than 4.3 million people in Michigan have been vaccinated, according to state data.