Michigan AG comments on executive order that requires face coverings in enclosed public places

By: Shannon Nolan Facebook | Twitter

Posted: Apr 27, 2020 10:31 AM EDT

LANSING, Mich.— Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released a statement on Sunday regarding Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s new executive order that requires people to wear face coverings inside of enclosed public places.

The executive order requires that anyone who is able to medically tolerate a face covering must wear one over their nose and mouth when inside of any enclosed public space.

According to the order, face coverings can be a homemade mask, scarf, bandana, or handkerchief.

Businesses whose workers perform in-person work must, at a minimum, provide non-medical grade face coverings for workers under the executive order.

The executive order went into effect on April 26 at 11:59 p.m.

Nessel issued the following statement after concerns were brought to her office surrounding the high demand and short supply of face masks.

“I know many business owners around the state are working hard to reopen and comply with the Governor’s Executive Order. Securing appropriate face coverings by the Monday deadline, though, appears to be a difficult task for some businesses given limited supplies. Therefore, I am asking our law enforcement partners around the state to consider the good faith efforts of businesses that have tried, but have been unsuccessful, in obtaining appropriate face coverings when deciding whether to take criminal enforcement action against a non-compliant business. While businesses work diligently to find appropriate face coverings to meet the requirements of the Executive Order, I urge employees that can safely do so to use their own face coverings as protection until businesses provide face coverings as required by the Governor’s order. The Governor’s order requires that each of us – businesses and employees – work together to safely and successfully reopen our economy. We appreciate the cooperation of law enforcement, employers and employees as we strive to carefully and thoughtfully reopen our state, one step at a time.”