Pontiac Times

Earlier this month, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, determining that the state is no longer under a state of emergency and nullifying executive orders made by the governor in response to the pandemic, according to Michigan Capitol Confidential.

The 4-3 ruling asserted that the governor could not declare an indefinite state of emergency, according to precedent. However, this leaves many Michigan residents confused as to what the new regulations and restrictions are as they battle the still-ongoing pandemic. 

Though the restrictions that were put in place under executive orders ended with that decision, many of the same restrictions have since been put in place by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), which has the authority to do so. 

Robert Gordon, the Director of the MDHHS, said, “We won’t need these orders forever. I have asked for feedback on today’s order, and I pledge to review the specific elements by October 30. The day can’t come soon enough when a vaccine and therapeutic drugs make normal life safer again. For now, public action is critical to saving Michiganders’ lives.”

For now, Michigan residents remain under many of the same guidelines and restrictions as they did prior to the ruling, albeit under a different authority.