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Western Upper Peninsula Health Department responds to Michigan Supreme Court ruling

HANCOCK – The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department (WUPHD) issued the following statement today in response to the recent Michigan Supreme Court Ruling regarding the Governor’s executive orders. On Friday, Oct. 2, the Michigan Supreme Court held that “the executive orders issued by the Governor in response to the COVID-19 pandemic lack any basis under Michigan Law.” The Court indicated that its decision “leaves open many avenues for the Governor and Legislature to work together” to address the challenges posed by the pandemic. One avenue that the Governor may choose is ...

Whitmer: Statewide mask requirement remains in effect

LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Monday that a statewide mask requirement remains in effect despite the Michigan Supreme Court’s invalidation of a law that underpins her orders to control the coronavirus pandemic. She asked the court to declare its Friday ruling not binding until Oct. 30, to give her administration, the Republican-led Legislature and local health departments time to transition. Whitmer warned that people could lose unemployment benefits as a result of the court’s decision and called on lawmakers to return to session instead of recessing until after ...

Aspirus further limiting visitors at all locations

Aspirus is re-instating tighter visitor restrictions at its locations across Upper Michigan and Wisconsin to minimize the spread of respiratory infections like COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. Aspirus’ temporary visitor restrictions, which will be fully implemented before the weekend, apply to both inpatient and outpatient settings to protect patients, staff and community members. These restrictions will help the Aspirus team continue to provide safe, excellent care to all who need it. Until further notice, visitors will not be allowed at Aspirus locations, with the following ...

Whitmer to move UP back to Phase 4

LANSING — As the U.P. continues to see a steady climb in COVID-19 cases, the Upper Peninsula will move back to Phase 4 in the state’s reopening plan on Oct. 9, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday afternoon. Although the order does not take effect for another week, Whitmer called on ...

Michigan Supreme Court strikes down governor’s virus orders

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Supreme Court on Friday struck down months of orders by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that were aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus, saying she drew authority from a 1945 law that is unconstitutional. The decision is an extraordinary development in a ...

Governor Whitmer Moves Upper Peninsula to Phase 4

LANSING — After a recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the Upper Peninsula, or MERC Region 8, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-192 moving the region back to phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan. The executive order will go into effect Friday, Oct. 9 at 12:01 a.m., although given the surge in cases everyone should make this transition as swiftly as possible. The move to Phase 4 will require people who can perform work remotely to do so, require schools to enforce mask requirements with limited exceptions, and place limits on social gatherings and stores that match those ...