Real Estate professionals can finally head back into the trenches next week, put for sale signs in the yards and actively pursue their profession once again beginning May 7th under a new executive order released this afternoon by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. They join construction workers and contractors and to a limited degree some manufacturing facilities related to the creation of materials to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Today, at a press conference with leaders in health care, business, and labor at her side, the Governor signed Executive Order 2020-70 as part of her MI Safe Start plan. The executive order will allow the May 7th resumption of some types of work that present a very low risk of infection, including construction, real-estate activities, and work that is traditionally and primarily performed outdoors.
Whitmer says, “The vast majority of Michiganders are still doing their part to protect themselves and their families from COVID-19. That’s good, but we must keep it up.” She adds, “As part of our MI Safe Start Plan, we are bringing business and labor leaders together to ensure that while we lift some restrictions on the previous Stay Home, Stay Safe order, we are also protecting workers and their families from the spread of this virus. I want to be clear: we must all continue to stay home and stay safe as much as possible. If we all keep doing our part, we can reduce the risk of a second wave and re-engage our economy safely and responsibly.”
The Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Safe order remains in effect until May 15, 2020. Under this order, Michiganders still must not leave their homes except to run critical errands, to engage in safe outdoor activities, or to go to specified jobs. Executive Order 2020-70 also requires businesses to adopt measures to protect their workers against the spread of COVID-19.
MDHHS Chief Deputy for Health and Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun says, “The data shows that we’re ready to lift some of these restrictions while also encouraging Michiganders to continue doing their part under the governor’s Stay Home, Stay Safe order,” and adds, “The steps the governor is taking today will help ensure protections for workers and their families from COVID-19 while allowing for work in lower-risk fields to resume. We will keep monitoring the data closely and work with our partners across state government to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.” 
Pat Devlin, Secretary Treasurer of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council, said today, “We are grateful for the governor’s commitment to protecting working people and their families from the spread of COVID-19,” promising, “Our dedicated building tradesmen and women are ready to get back to work, and we’re glad the governor has taken steps today to help ensure their safety. We are excited to continue working with Governor Whitmer as she continues to take action on behalf of working families.”
Under the order, construction sites must adopt a set of best practices to protect their workers from infection. Those practices include:
- Designating a site supervisor to enforce COVID-19 control strategies.
- Conducting daily health screenings for workers.
- Creating dedicated entry points, if possible, or issuing stickers or other indicators to assure that all workers are screened every day.
- Identifying choke points and high-risk areas (like hallways, hoists and elevators, break areas, water stations, and buses) and controlling them to enable social distancing.
- Ensuring sufficient hand-washing or hand-sanitizing stations at the worksite.
Ryan Maibach, President & CEO of Barton Malow and member of the Michigan Economic Recovery Council, also joined the Governor at the podium today, saying, “With an eye towards Michigan’s economic recovery, leadership representing the full spectrum of the construction industry have been working diligently and cooperatively to outline processes and practices that will allow us to safely get back to work,” and adding, “The construction industry is entrenched in a culture of safety, and as we return to work, we are developing and implementing new best practices that further emphasize the well-being of our workers and Michigan’s citizens.”
The Governor also addressed the approval for some manufacturers who create social distancing materials to return to work such as furniture manufacturers and office firms that create cubicles and other workplace separation devices.
Last week, the governor signed Executive Order 2020-59 to require people to wear homemade face coverings when they enter enclosed public spaces. This requirement is still in effect under Executive Order 2020-70.
To view Executive Order 2020-70, Click the link below:
