Michigan Association of Fire Fighters

Businesses must ask medical reason for not wearing masks

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an Executive Order clarifying mask rules for the state, which include public safety officers being required to wear face coverings unless it seriously interferes with them doing their jobs.

Executive Order 2020-153 also states businesses must ask customers to confirm their medical reason for not wearing a mask. This clarifies her previous mask order, Executive Order 2020-147, which requires individuals wear face coverings inside public places and outdoors in crowded areas where social distancing isn't possible.

Exceptions to the face covering rules include:

  • Children under age five.
  • People who cannot medically tolerate face coverings.
  • People exercising in a way that wearing a mask would interfere with the activity.
  • People eating or drinking while seated in a food service establishment.
  • Voters at a polling place during an election.