LANSING – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has issued an epidemic order for the State of Michigan.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer held a press conference Sunday evening, saying the new epidemic order would go into effect on Wednesday, November 18 at 12:01 AM and last for three weeks. The main thrust of the order is to limit indoor gathering sizes to help slow down the spread of COVID-19.

Whitmer says this order is targeted and temporary and aims to only do what is necessary and nothing more.

Joining Whitmer at the press conference was MDHHS Director Robert Gordon. He says there are eight key points to the order, the first being it would continue requiring masks in public.

Gordon says the order also closes indoor public and business settings where people gather, which includes indoor service at bars and restaurants, indoor entertainment venues including casinos, bowling centers, movie theaters, ice rinks and group exercise classes.

The order temporarily suspends in person learning for all high schools for three weeks. K-8 grades will be allowed to remain open with mask requirements in place. This is based on discussions with school leaders, front line educators and local health officials. Gordon says child care will remain open.

The order would also suspend organized sports for three week for Michigan schools. College and professional sports would be allowed to continue. Whitmer says the order wasn't a blanket stay home order like the one she issued earlier this years. This order would limit the riskiest behaviors for spreading COVID-19.

Here are the eight key points of the order:
1. It would continue requiring masks in gatherings.
2. It would allow families to gather with one other household in a residence.
3. It would close indoor settings, such as dining and group exercise.
4. It would leave open the ability to work when working from home wasn't possible, such
as in construction, health care and some offices.
5. It would leave open the ability to gather outdoors, including outdoor dining.
6. It would leave open individual activities when wearing a mask, such as haircuts,
individual exercise, and shopping with a limited number of customers.
7. It would temporarily suspend in-person learning for all high schools. Elementary and
middle schools could remain open with masks in place and child care would remain open
for working parents.
8. It would suspend organized sports for three weeks. Professional and college-level
sports would remain open if they met extraordinary standards for risk mitigation.