Resources for retailers

Posted on

Quarantine/testing guidance – August 12, 2022

The CDC relaxed its COVID-19 guidelines Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022 dropping the recommendation that people who are unvaccinated (or unboosted) quarantine themselves if they come into close contact with an infected person. Quarantining at home for five days is not necessary, but it urges those people to wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested after five. These recommendations are now the same as vaccinated people.

The CDC guidance now states that people no longer need to stay at least 6 feet away from others. “Physical distance is just one component of how to protect yourself and others,” the guidance reads. “It is important to consider the risk in a particular setting, including local COVID-19 Community Levels and the important role of ventilation, when assessing the need to maintain physical distance.”

Also on Aug. 12, the Food and Drug Administration updated its recommendations for how many times people exposed to COVID-19 should test. Previously, the FDA had advised taking two rapid antigen tests over two or three days to rule out infection. Now the agency recommends three home tests to make sure you’re not infected. The new guidance applies to people without symptoms who think they may have been exposed. People with symptoms can continue using two tests spaced 48 hours apart.

CDC continues to recommend that people who test positive should isolate from others for at least five days, regardless of vaccination status. They advise that people can end isolation if they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication and they are without symptoms, or the symptoms are improving.

CDC also included updated guidance on how people can use testing to end their isolation after getting sick with COVID-19, recommending two negative tests 48 hours apart before going out in public again without a mask. The new guidance recommends people take their first test on day six of isolation if they’re fever-free, with a second rapid test 48 hours later.

CDC also dropped a “test-to-stay” recommendation, which said students exposed to COVID-19 could regularly test – instead of quarantining at home – to keep attending school. With no quarantine recommendation anymore, the testing option disappeared too.

Masks continue to be recommended only in areas where community transmission is deemed high, or if a person is considered at high risk of severe illness.

More information is available on the CDC website.

PREVIOUS GUIDANCE 

The following timely guidance was previously provided to members. At this time, this information is considered out of date. We are maintaining the information below for historical knowledge.

Face mask enforcement FAQs: Navigating state and federal guidance

Face mask enforcement has become a worrisome issue for retailers with the latest order from the Governor requiring retailers to bar entry and refuse service to those not wearing a mask, unless they fall under one of the exemptions. You’ve asked Michigan Retailers Association a lot of questions, so we’ve compiled a list of FAQs after inquiring with the governor’s office and our federal partners on some of the conflicting guidance and laws.

Executive Orders and state guidance

For an updated chart with information on and links to all of the COVID-19 Executive Orders, Executive Directives and state department that remain in effect and impact retail including issuance dates, effective dates, previous executive order numbers and overviews click here. (Updated through 8/11/20.)

  • All local county health orders on employee health screenings have been rescinded or have expired. Follow the state’s guidance on employee health screening requirements and questions detailed in Executive Order 2020-161.
  • The various regions are designated in the MI Safe Start Plan and can be seen on the map on page 3 of that document.
  • MIOSHA COVID-19 Workplace Safety Website
    • Provides general workplace guidelines for employers and employees and further clarification on necessary steps several other sectors must take when reopening.

MRA Articles

COVID-19 Preparedness and response plan template – updated Dec. 2020

By June 1 or within two weeks of resuming in-person work, all Michigan businesses must develop and make available a COVID-19 preparedness and response plan. The plan must be consistent with recommendations in OSHA’s Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19. Employers must make this plan available to employees, labor unions and customers (via website, internal network or paper). To assist in the preparation of this document, MRA created an editable template members can use to develop their own plan. Click the button below and then once you’re on the page, click the orange download button. The draft plan was updated Dec. 23, 2020.

Download your copy today

Tax Relief

  • Federal & State tax filing delays
  • State Sales, Use and Withholding (SUW) tax payment deferral
    • The state Treasury Department is now allowing business taxpayers who deferred paying their SUW tax payments for the February, March, April and May tax periods due on June 20, 2020 – including quarterly filers – to either pay their outstanding balance in its entirety or pay their outstanding balance in monthly payments over the next six months. Penalties and interest will be waived on those deferred payments. See the state Treasury Department’s notice issued on May 26 for complete details.

Food & Pharmacy

  • Michigan Liquor Control Commission and liquor licenses
  • MDARD Food Establishment Licenses
    • E.O. 2020-109 extends the food establishment license deadline from April 30 until 60 days after the end of the declared states of emergency and disaster.
  • Bottle deposit law
    • Beginning June 15, 2020, all grocery stores, supermarkets and other retailers with bottle return facilities located at the front of the store or housed in a separate area and serviced exclusively by reverse vending machines (RVM) requiring minimal or no person-to-person contact must re-open their bottle return facilities and resume the collection of returnable beverage containers and refund of customer bottle deposits.
    • Retailers re-opening their bottle return facilities during Phase 1 must ensure that those facilities comply with all state-mandated safety protocols and restrictions, including the most recent state-mandated safeguards to protect workers (See Executive Orders 2020-114 and 2020-109).
    • Notice issued by the Michigan Department of Treasury on June 1.
    • Restarting Bottle Deposit Takeback Industry Best Practices and Requirements for Phase 1
  • WIC
    • USDA Food and Nutrition Service is extending the current WIC food package waivers through June 30. Click here to read the announcement.
    • WIC temporarily suspended stocking inspections while shelves were emptied from panic shopping. If members have seen those inspections resume please let MRA know. Contact MRA’s Amy Drumm to let her know: adrumm@retailers.com.
  • SNAP
    • Michigan was approved by USDA Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) for additional emergency benefit allocations to SNAP clients for the month of June. This is similar to what was done for the months of March, April and May. SNAP customers will have additional benefits added to their Bridge Cards by the end of June.

Lottery

  • Retailers are not required to sell lottery products and may request deactivation of equipment at any time. There are no penalties for deactivation. Stores that are unable to implement social-distancing measures and follow all requirements of the stay home, stay safe order must deactivate their lottery terminals. To deactivate, call 517.335.5619 or email msl-licensing@michigan.gov.
  • The 2020/2021 Michigan Lottery licenses will be mailed to retailers the week of June 15, 2020. All retailers on probation will be charged a license renewal fee of $200. Starting the week of July 6, letters will be mailed to retailers on probation informing them that this fee will show up as an adjustment on their invoice for week ending July 22, 2020. The Lottery also released a video about how to clean and sanitize self-serve vending machines and Lottery terminals.

Previous 2020 COVID-19 updates

To see the previous version of the COVID-19 resources page containing updates from March – May 2020, click here.

© Michigan Retailers Association | Michigan Retailers Services, Inc. is a registered Independent Sales Organization of Synovus Bank, Columbus, Georgia