In the last 24 hours, Governor Whitmer has issued three new executive orders (EOs) to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect employees and families. Those include EOs 2020-09 which creates temporary restrictions on the use of places of public accommodation, 2020-10 which provides temporary expansions in unemployment eligibility and cost-sharing, and 2020-11 which replaces EO 2020-05 and limits the size of gatherings to no more than 50 people. Here is a brief synopsis and links to each one:

2020-09: Temporary restrictions on the use of places of public accommodation

  • Began March 16, 2020 at 3:00 pm and continues until March 30, 2020 at 11:59 pm.
  • Closes all "place of public accommodation" including all places offering food or beverage for public consumption (bars, restaurants, coffee shops, clubs, etc.), hookah/cigar bars, theaters and other performance venues, libraries and museums, gyms and fitness centers, casinos, and other places of amusement.

2020-10: Temporary expansions in unemployment eligibility and cost-sharing

  • Effective immediately, and continuing until April 14, 2020 at 11:59 pm
  • Unemployment insurance extended to
    • "workers who have an unanticipated family care responsibility, including those who have childcare responsibilities due to school closures, or those who are forced to care for loved ones who become ill."
    • "workers who are sick, quarantined, or immunocompromised and who do not have access to paid family and medical leave or are laid off"
    • First responders in the public health community who become ill or quarantined because of coronavirus.
  • Unemployment benefits also are being extended from 20 to 26 weeks, the application eligibility period will be increased from 14 to 28 days, and the in-person registration and work search requirements also will be suspended.
  • The order also stipulates that employers or employing units must not be charged for unemployment benefits if their employees become unemployed because of Whitmer's business closure order

2020-11: Temporary prohibition on large assemblages and events, temporary school closures

  • Replaces Executive Order 2020-05
  • Effective through April 5, 2020 at 5:00 pm
  • Prohibits all assemblages of more than 50 people in a single indoor shared space and all events of more than 50 people. The only exceptions to this prohibition are health care facilities, workplaces not open to the public, the state legislature, and "assemblages for the purpose of mass transit, the purchase of groceries or consumer goods, or the performance of agricultural or construction work."
  • Maintains the mandatory closure of schools (necessary since this replaces EO 2020-05).