Two Or More People Meet Outside Homes, Not Wearing Masks, Subject To $1,000 Fine

An exception would be if the two people were swimming together, but even then a face mask is ‘strongly encouraged’

By Tom Gantert | October 29, 2020

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services director Robert Gordon has defined a “gathering” in Michigan as “any occurrence, either indoor or outdoor, where two or more persons from more than one household are present in a shared space.”

The definition empowers the state to regulate gatherings of any two individuals who are not from the same household, with a failure to abide by the rules punishable by civil fines of up to $1,000. This implies that two friends who are not wearing face masks and walking together (not six feet apart) in a empty park would be subject to state-imposed penalties.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services imposed a new and more restrictive set of coronavirus restrictions on business and schools on Oct. 29.

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.

Tips Optional, But Dine-In Service Now Requires Leaving Name, Phone Number

Schools, businesses must turn over names of those ‘with possible COVID-19 exposure’

By Tom Gantert | October 29, 2020

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services released new and more restrictive rules on Oct. 29 that require businesses and schools to provide the names and phone numbers of individuals with “possible” COVID-19 exposure to state officials. It’s unclear in the order if the individuals include all customers, too.

The information would be used for contact tracing and case investigations, according to a press release from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Also, all dine-in food establishments will have to collect the names and phone numbers of patrons who purchase food for consumption on the premises, along with the date and time of the purchase, effective Nov. 2. The order has no expiration date.

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.

COVID Not The Only Killer: Pandemic’s ‘Excess Deaths’ Could Include Some From Government’s Response

Suspending medical screenings and nonessential treatments also have costs

By Tom Gantert | October 29, 2020

The state of Michigan had the 11th-highest number of pandemic-related excess deaths in the U.S. between March 1 and Aug. 1. That’s according to research published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

“Excess deaths” is defined as the number of deaths that exceeds the normal, expected number. The number includes individuals who have died from COVID-19 itself. But it also includes the lives lost “indirectly through delayed care for acute emergencies, exacerbations of chronic diseases, and psychological distress (eg, drug overdoses)” among other causes, according to the publication.

Michigan had the 11th-highest mortality rate nationwide from March 1 to Aug. 1, 2020. It also had the 11th-highest number deaths observed from all causes that are over-and-above the total number of people who would be expected to die from the novel coronavirus alone. The study had Michigan ranking 10th among all states but the study didn't include Washington, D.C. into its rankings. If Washington D.C. is added, Michigan ranks 11th.

According to the study, deaths may be undercounted during the pandemic because there may be people dying due to the pandemic restrictions but not having contracted COVID-19 - such as a drug overdose.

The study states, "Moreover, restrictions imposed by the pandemic (eg, stay-at-home orders) could claim lives indirectly through delayed care for acute emergencies, exacerbations of chronic diseases, and psychological distress (eg, drug overdoses)."

Without the pandemic, Michigan could be expected to have experienced 40,047 deaths from March 1 through Aug. 1, 2020. The actual number of deaths in the state was 48,854 during that period, meaning there were 8,797 “excess deaths” during those 153 days.

But not all of these were caused by COVID-19. The disease is responsible for 5,866 of the state’s excess deaths, or 67% of the total. This leaves 2,931 individuals in Michigan who died during the pandemic, though not from the virus. Government responses to the pandemic may also be implicated in some or many of the excess deaths not attributable to the virus.

Data used in the new research came from the National Center for Health Statistics.

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.

Two Or More People Meet Outside Homes, Not Wearing Masks, Subject To $1,000 Fine

An exception would be if the two people were swimming together, but even then a face mask is ‘strongly encouraged’

Tips Optional, But Dine-In Service Now Requires Leaving Name, Phone Number

Schools, businesses must turn over names of those ‘with possible COVID-19 exposure’

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COVID Not The Only Killer: Pandemic’s ‘Excess Deaths’ Could Include Some From Government’s Response

Suspending medical screenings and nonessential treatments also have costs

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Two Or More People Meet Outside Homes, Not Wearing Masks, Subject To $1,000 Fine

An exception would be if the two people were swimming together, but even then a face mask is ‘strongly encouraged’

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Tips Optional, But Dine-In Service Now Requires Leaving Name, Phone Number

Schools, businesses must turn over names of those ‘with possible COVID-19 exposure’

Follow us on social media!

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COVID Not The Only Killer: Pandemic’s ‘Excess Deaths’ Could Include Some From Government’s Response

Suspending medical screenings and nonessential treatments also have costs

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