City of Detroit Extends Emergency Order Aimed at Reducing Transmission of COVID-19 until July 31

DETROIT, June 23, 2021 - In response to the public health emergency and the risk posed by a resurgence of COVID-19, Detroit's Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair issued an emergency public health order extending the restrictions in place for the Open Meetings Act until July 31, 2021. This order, issued today, is aimed at reducing transmission of COVID-19 and variants.

The order states that action is necessary to reduce transmission of COVID-19 and to protect the public's health in Detroit, citing the following data:

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Michigan remains second in the nation in the number of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant cases at this time.

The emergence and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 variants in Detroit and surrounding communities, and current vaccination rates; certain in-person meetings pose a substantial risk to members of the public and governmental bodies in the City of Detroit.

"Multiple governmental bodies in Detroit have directly communicated the desire to have the flexibility to hold hybrid meetings, with both in-person and virtual components due to the lack of space to be able to physically distance themselves," said Chief Public Health Officer Denise Fair. "We recognize the importance of conducting open and transparent government meetings but we need to do so in a manner that does not jeopardize the public's health and safety."

She added the emergency order could be rescinded prior to July 31 by a subsequent order and noted that public bodies subject to the OMA must avoid meeting in person as necessary to reduce the risk of spreading infection.

A copy of the Order can be found http://www.detroitmi.gov.