MI Issues Public Health Advisory, Encourages Face Mask Indoors

MICHIGAN — State officials issued a public health advisory Friday morning encouraging everyone above the age of 2 to wear a face mask indoors, regardless of their vaccination status.

"The increases in case counts, percent positivity and hospitalizations have us very concerned," said Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. "We are issuing the face mask advisory and are looking to Michiganders to do their part to help protect their friends, their families and their communities by wearing a mask in indoor settings and getting vaccinated for COVID-19 and flu as soon as possible if they have not already done so."

The state health department's face mask advisory comes at a time when Michigan is leading the nation in new COVID-19 cases.

"What we’re seeing is truly unprecedented," said Dr. Darryl Elmouchi, president of Spectrum Health West Michigan. Spectrum Health currently has 370 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 86 percent of whom are unvaccinated, Elmouchi said.

"Our teams are tired but working hard to care for their communities," Elmouchi said. "We’re counting on people to help us by getting vaccinated or getting a booster dose if eligible, wearing masks and being smart about holiday gatherings."

Officials encouraged everyone to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance for special considerations of holiday gatherings:

• Immunocompromised people should take all precautions of unvaccinated people, including wearing a well-fitted mask.
• Choose to wear a mask if a member of your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease or is unvaccinated.
• If you are gathering with groups from multiple households from different areas across the state and country, consider additional precautions such as getting tested for COVID-19 to reduce the risk of spreading to loved ones.