Outdoor Mask Mandate Mostly Gone, Fully-Vaxxed Can Go Maskless At Gatherings

Masks will no longer be needed outdoors unless a gathering exceeds 100 people, under the latest update to the state’s COVID-19 epidemic orders. 

The new Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) order announced Tuesday also allows anyone fully vaccinated and not experiencing symptoms to go mask-less at residential gatherings, including indoor ones. The order went into effect May 6 and runs through May 31. 
 
Large outdoor events, including festivals, fairs, and golf tournaments will be able to exceed the current 1,000-person limit provided they create a safety plan in which no more than 20 people are congregating per 1,000 square feet. 
 
The new order also provides residential outdoor gatherings to go to 50 people. And if the density does not exceed 20 persons per 1,000 square feet of usable outdoor space, up to 300 people may be gathered. 
 
The DHHS said outdoor stadiums complying with “enhanced protocols” will continue to be allowed to operate at 20% of their fixed seating capacity. 
 
Outdoor stadiums or arenas with a fixed seating capacity of 5,000 or greater that aren’t deploying enhanced protocols may have 1,000 patrons, up from the previous 750. For stadiums and arenas above 10,000 but with no protocols, 1,500 people are allowed. 
 
New guidance announced by the DHHS drops the required routine testing for fully vaccinated organized sports participants if they are asymptomatic. 
 
The DHHS said masks will continue to be required for contact sports but are no longer required outdoors during active practice and competition for non-contact sports. 
 
The updated COVID requirements come as the state added 2,527 more confirmed COVID cases Tuesday, the lowest reported in a single day since March 20, when there were 2,660 cases. Between then and now, the daily report had not dropped below 3,000 cases in a single report. 
 
The total cases for the pandemic in Michigan are now at 851,947. Another 126 deaths reported Tuesday take that total to 17,897.