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U.P., Greater Traverse City area now in phase 5 of MI Safe Start plan, allowing hair salons & movie theaters to reopen

Virus Outbreak Vulnerable Northlands
Posted at 5:40 AM, Jun 10, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-10 07:17:11-04

(WXYZ) — Starting today, Michiganders up north can get that long anticipated hair cut, go to the gym or see a movie.

The UP and the Greater Traverse City area is moving into phase 5 of the MI Safe Start plan Wednesday – five days ahead of us here in Southeast Michigan.

Michigan regions 6 and 8 — which includes the Upper Peninsula and the Traverse City area, will move into phase 5 of the MI Safe Start plan today — allowing for hair, nail, and tanning salons to re-open. Also gyms, tattoo parlors, and movie theaters.

As with every phase of the plan, loosened restrictions come with new rules.

“These indoor facilities must limit the number of people in the venue to 25 percent of maximum capacity or 250, whichever is smaller. And enable people to maintain six feet of distance from one another at all times," said Gov. Whitmer.

Under phase 5, indoor gatherings of up to 50 people are now allowed, and outdoor gatherings of up to 250.

Outdoor performance and sporting venues may also re-open in regions 6 and 8 starting Wednesday with a limited capacity of up to 500 people, meaning the possibility of graduation ceremonies.

Businesses will need to follow strict safely protocols as they enter phase 5 — like increased cleaning, and requiring staff to wear face coverings.

On Friday, the governor warned despite Michigan’s progress, COVID-19 isn’t gone yet.

“Please do not drop your guard now," said the governor.

Phase 6 is “post-pandemic,” meaning that community spread of COVID-19 is not expected to return.

Thus far, the governor has been taking this step by step, so we don’t have a firm date on when Michigan will enter the final phase of the MI Safe Start plan. She did, however, say Friday that increased PPE, and more robust testing and tracing here in Michigan, is what got us to this point, along with following social distancing.

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