Michigan to end remote work after reaching 55 percent vaccination rate

Michigan will be lifting its rule on May 24 that requires employers to allow employees to work from home if possible in light of surpassing a 55 percent coronavirus vaccination rate.

Passing the 55 percent threshold is part of Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s four milestone plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions, according to The Associated Press. 

“If you’ve gotten your safe, effective vaccine, thank you. And if you haven’t yet, I encourage you to speak to your doctor or your friends or family who’ve been vaccinated to learn about their experiences,” Whitmer said in a video. “Every day we get closer to putting this pandemic behind us and getting back to normal.”

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the state has administered nearly 7.5 million coronavirus vaccine doses.

Once the state reaches a 60 percent vaccination rate, capacity limits at sports stadiums, banquet halls, conference centers and funeral homes will begin to rise to 25 percent and restaurants will no longer be under an 11 p.m. curfew. After 65 percent of eligible people receive one dose of vaccine, all indoor capacity limits will be lifted, though social distancing requirements will stay in place.

MDHHS spokesperson Lynn Sutfin said that although Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine was recently approved for children aged 12 to 15, Michigan would still be tying its restrictions to those aged 16 and above.

The AP notes that Michigan still currently has the highest two-week coronavirus case rate in the U.S., citing Johns Hopkins University.

According to the MDHHS, Michigan has confirmed nearly 1 million coronavirus cases and almost 20,000 related deaths.