Wayne County OKs Remote Meetings Through May As COVID-19 Spikes

WAYNE COUNTY, MI — Public meetings in Wayne County can continue to take place virtually through May 31 following the issuance of a new public health order by Wayne County Public Health Officer Carol Austerberry Tuesday.

The order allows all public bodies in Wayne County — excluding Detroit, which is governed by its own health department — to continue to hold virtual public meetings, something that became customary due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and comes as Michigan deals with a surge in new COVID-19 cases.

"Wayne County has experienced a significant increase in COVID-19 cases and we cannot yet afford to let our guard down," Austerberry said. "Under this order, public bodies such as school boards and city councils can conduct business in a transparent manner without risking further spread of the COVID virus."

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According to data provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday, 74,785 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Wayne County. Meanwhile, 2,142 deaths in the county have been attributed to the coronavirus.

COVID-19 cases have increased since mid-February, growing from 659 new cases during the week beginning February 7 to 2,205 new cases in the week beginning March 14, the county order submits. That uptick represents a 235 percent increase in the number of cases reported in a span of just six weeks.

The positivity rate for COVID-19 tests has increased from 4.5 percent to 7.8 percent during that same time frame, officials said. There were 3,567 new COVID-19 cases recorded in the week beginning March 21, marking the first week since early December with more than 3,000 new cases in Wayne County.

Officials said that while the order allows for remote meetings, a local body can still resume in-person meetings if the meeting size is limited to fewer than 25 members. This order is designed to give local officials authority to make meeting venue decisions based on COVID-19 circumstances specific to their individual communities, officials said. People at in-person meetings must wear masks and practice social distancing, according to MDHHS guidance.

"Open public meetings are a cornerstone of a democratic society," Austerberry said. "This order allows local communities the flexibility to respect the public's right to open meetings without risking further harm to public health during this deadly pandemic."

Read More: Wayne County Coronavirus Update: 74,785 Cases, 2,142 Deaths