Capitol News

LANSING - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has extended a stay-at-home order to include motorized boating and jet skiing, which along with other recreational activities and business shutdowns is intended to slow the COVID-19 spread in Michigan.

Whitmer, a Democrat, gave the original shut-down order on Mar. 24, calling for residents to stay at home and for the closing of non-essential businesses. The current stay-at-home order will be in place at least until April 30.

A representative of recreational boaters could not be reached for comment at press time, but state officials had expressed concern last week about boaters, in particular fishermen, being allowed to fish but some of whom were ignoring the distance rules.

Now motorized boat fishing is shut down.

"We've seen a lot of fishermen trying to stuff four, five guys in a 12-foot boat," Gerald Thayer, District 7 Law Supervisor, told a reporter for WWMT. "That's not gonna work. If you're going to be out in a boat there should only be one or two. We recently had to close the Tippy Dam (Brethren, MI) because the fishermen there were congregating just way too close under the Governor's Executive Order. We gave plenty of warnings and still it just kept happening with the same folks so we were forced to shut that down. We don't want that to happen anywhere else in the state."

According to a report in Mlive.com, motorboats, jet skis and other motorized watercraft are not allowed under the revised stay-at-home order.

Still allowed are paddled watercraft, self-propelled boats like kayaks, canoes or sailboats. However, such activity must be conducted in a manner consistent with social distancing, staying a minimum six feet away from other individuals. Additionally, people should use only their own equipment to prevent the virus transmission through touching shared surfaces, the Mlive.com report said.

“Physical outdoor activity like kayaking, canoeing, and sailing is permitted under the order, but using a motorboat, a jet ski, or other similar watercraft is not,” Executive Order 2020-42 stated. “Outdoor activity permitted under the order including boating must be done in a manner consistent with social distancing. Additionally in accordance with the order, persons not part of a single household may not boat together."

Boating services and supplies are also considered non-essential and therefore fall under the shut-down order. Such businesses are allowed to assign workers to conduct minimum basic operations.

“These businesses may designate workers to leave their home for work if their in-person presence is strictly necessary to conduct the minimum basic operations,” the state rules read. "Minimum basic operations do not include serving members of the public."

The order does permit in-person work necessary to maintain the safety and sanitation of sites open to the public for outdoor physical activity permitted under the order. All in-person work permitted under the order must be done in accordance with the mitigation measures listed.

The COVID-19 virus has killed more than 1,000 people in Michigan since the first case was confirmed on March 10.

Critics contend the shut-down is being applied too broadly, arguing that certain industries should be allowed to continue operating if proper social distancing is observed.

According to a Bridge article, a “willful violation” of Whitmer’s stay-home order is considered a misdemeanor offense, while a separate emergency order from the State Health Dept. can result in a fine of up to $1,000 for violations and a licensing review for businesses that do not adhere to the temporary rules.