(WWJ) There's good news today for young athletes in Michigan.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday announced it has updated epidemic order to allow high school and other contact sports to resume next Monday, Feb. 8 — as long as masks are worn during practices and competitions.
If masks cannot be worn, participants must be regularly tested for COVID-19 consistent with guidelines issued by MDHHS. "Safety protocols like wearing masks and testing will help keep kids, coaches and families safe and allow our schools to remain open for in-person instruction," the state said.
The order remains in effect through Monday, March 29.
"We continue to make progress in reducing cases and hospitalizations, helping protect our families and frontline workers and saving lives. Now, starting February 8, contact sports can resume with safety measures in place," said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. "Michigan continues to be a national leader in fighting this virus, and we must continue using a fact-based approach so we can return to a strong economy and normal day-to-day activities. One of the most important things Michiganders can do is to make a plan to get the safe and effective vaccine when it's available to you. And as always, mask up and maintain six feet of social distancing. We all have a personal responsibility to slow the spread of the virus so we can end this pandemic together."
Under rules set by the health department, contact sports are allowed as long as participants are masked during play or practice. For sports where masks cannot be worn and social distancing cannot be maintained all participants must be tested consistent with the program specified in the Testing and Additional Mitigation Measures for Athletic Practice and Play section of MDHHS's Interim Guidance for Athletics which will be available online at Michigan.gov/coronavirus on Sunday, Feb. 7. Sports organizers are encouraged to administer a testing program even if it is not required.
Participants will need to maintain six feet of distance when not actively engaged in play and wear face masks at all times. Spectators are allowed with up to 250 people in stadiums that seat less than 10,000 and up 500 people at venues that seat over 10,000 people.
"Today's announcement is possible because of our progress over the last two months," said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. "Michiganders need to remain vigilant, however, as we now have a new more easily transmitted variant of this virus present in our state. All Michigan residents need to minimize their risk by avoiding gatherings, wearing masks properly, social distancing, and making a plan to get the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine when it is their turn."
"I want to thank Governor Whitmer and her administration for the decision to begin winter contact sports competition," added Dr. Michael Shibler, superintendent of Rockford Public Schools. "I applaud their priority to keep students and adults safe during the pandemic and for the decision to provide student-athletes the opportunity to compete."
Earlier Thursday, a House Oversight Committee passed a resolution urging the governor to act on this issue.
"COVID has disrupted the lives of people in Michigan and across the world," State Rep. Timothy Beson said. "School closures in particular have had devastating impacts on students. They are struggling with academic challenges and the lack of social and emotional benefits provided by sports and in classes."
"The simple truth is state government should be helping our children through the situation — not making it worse," he added.
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at MDHHS, says the department has been closely monitoring three metrics for stabilization or declines over the past several weeks, and Michigan continues to see improvements.
In recent days:
- Hospital capacity dedicated to COVID-19 patients has been in 10-week decline, with current capacity at 6.6% for beds with COVID-19 patients. Peaked at 19.6% on Tuesday, Dec. 4.
- Overall case rates: Currently at 159 cases per million after peaking at 740 cases per million on Saturday, Nov. 14. Rate has been in solid decline for 24 days. Three MERC regions in the state are now below 150 cases per million people: the Detroit, Traverse City and Upper Peninsula regions.
- Positivity rate: currently at 4.9% and declining. This is the first time positivity has been this low since mid-October
"We are pleased at our continued progress in Michigan that has allowed us to take this step forward in a phased approach," said Khaldun.
"As a parent and former student-athlete myself, I get how important athletics are to our children's physical and mental health. However, parents and athletes need to understand the risk involved with contact sports if they choose to participate. Sports that require frequent closeness between players make it more difficult to prevent disease transmission even when mitigation measures are in place, including masks. Even when not required, we urge teams to implement a testing program to protect athletes, coaches and their families."
This comes just a few days after organizers of the group "Let Them Play" filed a lawsuit in hopes of getting these sports started sooner.
Over the weekend, hundreds of students, coaches and their families gathered outside the State Capitol in Lansing for a "Let us play!" rally.
