HOUGHTON — Houghton, Baraga and Keweenaw county courts implemented emergency measures as a precaution against the COVID-19 virus Wednesday.

The measures come in response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s declaration of a state of emergency and a Michigan Supreme Court order authorizing trial courts to implement emergency measures to make transmission less likely and give the greatest protection to employees and people who have business with the court. The Supreme Court decision includes restricting court proceedings to 10 people or fewer, including court employees.

The local measures apply to the 12th Circuit Court, 97th District Court and county probate courts.

Members of the public are asked not to go to the courthouse for non-emergency and routine matters. Call the appropriate court to determine the appropriate course of action.

All civil cases may be adjourned. Please contact the appropriate court. Courts may entertain conducting hearings by telephone or other means on a case-by-case basis.

With the exception of people using Soberlink, treatment court testing will be temporarily suspended until further notice.

Mediation by the Friend of the Court will be done electronically.

District Court probationers should report by telephone until April 3. Follow instructions of the probation officer after April 3 with regards to updates on probation reporting requirements.

All traffic-related informal hearings scheduled with the magistrate’s office will be adjourned and rescheduled. Notices will be sent by mail after April 3.

To address a traffic ticket, contact the appropriate district court by phone.

Weddings to be performed by the court will not be scheduled at this time.

Guardian ad litems may conduct any and all required visits by phone or other electronic means.

Guardians who must see wards at a nursing home will be excused until the end of April.