LANSING, MI - Today Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced her decision to reopen more regions in Michigan. Starting on Monday, June 10th, Regions 6 and 8 will advance to Phase 5 of the MI Safe Start Plan. This means that salons, movie theaters, and gyms are allowed to open in those regions.

Even though lower Michigan is still in Phase 4, Whitmer is allowing personal care services such as hair, massages, and nails to open statewide on Monday, June 15th. She stated that she expects the rest of the state to move into Phase 5 in the coming weeks as long as the current COVID-19 trajectory remains the same.

“Today marks another milestone in the safe reopening of Michigan’s economy,” Governor Whitmer said in a press release. “As we continue to slowly reopen different parts of our state, it’s critical that we listen to the experts and follow the medical science to avoid a second wave of infections. The good news is that we are headed in the right direction, and if the current trajectory continues, I anticipate we'll be able to announce more sectors reopening in the coming weeks. We owe it to our front line workers to keep doing our part.”

Phase 5 will also allow for indoor social gatherings and organized events to resume with a 50 person limit. Outdoor social gatherings and organized events will also be allowed under Phase 5, but are limited to a maximum capacity of 250. People are still encouraged to maintain six feet of distance from others, even in these outdoor settings. Outdoor performance and sporting venues will also open. The maximum capacity limit for those is 500 people.

Whitmer and Dr. Joneigh Khaldun both urged the public to continue taking safety precautions as we start reengaging the economy. They stated that though the outlook is looking better, COVID-19 still is a risk in the community.

The full press conference from today can be found on the Facebook and Twitter pages of the Michigan State Police.