The state’s new COVID-19 health orders go into effect on Wednesday. Ingham County’s health officer hopes they’ll keep infection rates down over the next three weeks.
There has been pushback against some of the new Michigan Department of Health and Human Services guidelines, but Health Officer Linda Vail says data analysis has led some businesses closed under earlier rules to stay open this time. “It left open gyms. It left open salons," states Vail. "We haven’t seen outbreaks of cases associated with those places.”
While indoor dining in restaurants and bars will be prohibited, outdoor dining, carry out orders and food delivery remain available.
Vail says violations of the new health order can be reported to the Ingham County Health Department by emailing coronavirus@ingham.org.
Additionally, Vail backs shutting down school sports, which she says has been a big problem.
“We’ve seen more cases associated with athletic related activities in high schools and junior high schools than we have, really, in classroom settings," Vail explains. "Seeing athletics get pretty much get shut down, I believe, was a good thing.”