MI Health Officials Reduce COVID-19 Quarantine Measures

MICHIGAN — As Michigan continues through its post COVID-19 surge, state health officials took another step in easing the state's safety requirements Friday by longer requiring a ten-day quarantine for anyone who was exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status.

But during those ten days, health officials still encouraged anyone who was exposed to COVID-19 to wear a mask, especially if the exposure was from a personal or household contact.

The new guidance also said anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 should quarantine for at least five days, before returning to public activity if symptoms are improving. Health officials also encouraged those individuals to wear a mask for at least the next days as well.

"We are updating our guidance to reflect the fact the state has entered a post-surge, recovery phase," said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive. "As we move through the phases of our COVID-19 response, our recommendations will be updated to reflect the current status of transmission, while continuing to prioritize public health and promote health and wellness for all communities."

There are currently no statewide orders requiring masking or isolation. Furthermore, health officials recently abandoned masking recommendations in indoor public settings, including schools.

The updated guidance from state health officials also comes as pandemic trends are improving in the state and across the country. However, 40 percent of eligible Michiganders still remain unvaccinated against COVID-19.