The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has issued an emergency order on requirements for residential care facilities.
The order grants the MDHHS director the authority to forbid public gatherings if necessary to protect residents, according to the state today.
“Ensuring the health and safety of vulnerable Michiganders and those under our care is of the utmost importance,” MDHHS Director Robert Gordon said. “This order reestablishes protections that have helped Michigan sharply reduce the loss of life in nursing homes. With the level of COVID in Michigan rising again, these protections are more critical than ever.”
The order, in part, requires facilities to inform the public that an employee has tested positive for the virus within 12 hours, to publicly display a notice near the entrance stating that an employee or resident has tested positive and to contact their local health department about the confirmed case.
The emergency order permits outdoor visits so long as social distancing is observed.
Visitors may be granted entry to juvenile justice and child care facilities via designated entrances. Visitors should also be screened for COVID-19 prior to entry.
The order permits communal dining as long as guidance from the MDHHS is abided by.
The order is effective immediately through Oct. 30. The penalty for violation is six months in jail and/or a $200 fine.
