Outdoor COVID Restrictions To End June 1; Indoor Capacity Limits Loosened

(May 20, 2021 12:01 PM) Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced today that the state is ending outdoor gathering limits designed to slow the spread of COVID-19 and raising capacity limits indoors to 50 percent starting June 1.

As previously announced, the ban on in-person work will end Monday, May 24.

Conference, wedding and event spaces, now heavily limited in how many people can be present in person, will increase to 50 percent of capacity starting June 1. Casinos, now limited to 30 percent capacity, will also increase to 50 percent. Any other indoor businesses now limited to less than 50 percent, like gyms and entertainment/sports venues, will go to 50 percent.

The revision to the MI Vacc to Normal plan increases indoor capacity limits and remove all outdoor capacity restrictions:

• Effective June 1st:
  • All outdoor restrictions and masking requirements will end.
  • All indoor capacities allowed up to 50%.
• Effective July 1st:
  • All capacity restrictions will be lifted.
  • Gatherings & Face Mask order will be lifted.

To reflect these changes, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), will release an updated epidemic order on Monday, May 24th. Throughout the month of June, people who are not yet fully vaccinated will still be required to mask up while indoors.

At the morning press event at Dow Diamond in Midland, home of the Great Lakes Loons minor league baseball team, Gov. Whitmer announced that nearly all aspects of the MDHHS masks and gatherings order will end July 1 with the possible exception to protect vulnerable populations.

Today’s update on lifting of outdoor capacity limits by Governor Whitmer means that all MHSAA tournament events beginning June 1 (including all Spring Finals) will be able to allow attendance at full capacity.