In this photo provided by the Michigan Office of the Governor, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addresses the state during a speech, Wednesday, May 12, 2021, in Lansing, Mich. Michigan health officials are urging primary care physicians to enroll to administer COVID-19 vaccines, as the state prepares to quickly begin vaccinating 12- to 15-year-olds following U.S. authorization. The push to make doses available in physicians’ offices will complement the state’s focus on taking mobile clinics to places such as churches, and vaccinating people who are homebound.
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer plans to soon accelerate a plan that ties the further loosening of coronavirus restrictions to Michigan’s vaccination rate, her office said Wednesday, citing the federal government’s recent recommendation that fully vaccinated people can largely stop wearing masks.
An announcement will come in within days, at most a week, spokesman Bobby Leddy said.
“We feel confident that our state can begin taking even greater steps to get back to normal now that a majority of Michiganders have received their vaccine,” he said.
Nearly 57% of residents ages 16 and older have gotten at least one dose.
When 60% receive one shot, capacity at sports stadiums, banquet halls, conference centers, funeral homes and gyms will rise under the plan that was announced three weeks ago. Restaurants and bars will no longer have an 11 p.m. curfew.
All indoor capacity limits will be lifted after 65% get a dose. At 70%, the state will rescind a mask and gatherings order and stop imposing broad mitigation measures unless unanticipated circumstances arise.
Also Wednesday, Michigan’s health department said it will urge schools to continue making students, teachers and other staff wear masks for the rest of the academic year even if they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.