Schools, Jobs Bringing Back Mask Mandates In Metro Detroit

DETROIT, MI — Some school districts and employers around metro Detroit are bringing back mask mandates, as most of the region entered high COVID-19 transmission levels.

Ferndale Public Schools reinstated its mask mandate Monday for all students and staff indoors, as Oakland County moved into the "high transmission" category for coronavirus, according to the school's website.

In addition, district officials in Royal Oak strongly encouraged students and staff to wear masks in schools.

The big three automakers — Stellantis, Ford and General Motors — also reinstated their mask mandate in counties where COVID-19 entered into the high levels.

"The health and safety of our workforce is our top priority as we continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation," Ford spokesperson Kelli Felker told WDIV. "We are temporarily reinstating a face mask requirement at all Ford facilities located in areas that the CDC has classified as orange/high-risk due to increased COVID-19 cases which currently impacts Wayne, Washtenaw, and Macomb counties."

In addition to Oakland County, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials deemed Livingston, Macomb, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne counties, as well as several others, as being at the "high" risk level for coronavirus transmission.

Schools, businesses and employers lifted mask mandates across the state in February, as state officials said Michigan entered its "post-surge recovery" stage and began relaxing mask recommendations.

However, COVID-19 cases in Michigan have been steadily increasing across the state, as state officials reported an average of 4,000 cases per day last week, an increase from 2,700 daily cases the week prior.

In addition, positive tests in the metro Detroit region were among one of the state's highest, accounting for 1,042 positive tests per a day per 100,000 people in the last seven days, making for an average of 347 positive tests per 100,000 people for Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.