EAST LANSING – With the start of Michigan State University’s (MSU) spring semester, the City of East Lansing, Ingham County Health Department (ICHD) and MSU are joining together once more to urge the greater East Lansing community to continue with COVID-19 safety measures.
It remains vitally important at this time for all community members, including student residents who may have just returned to the community, to continue to abide by all of the orders and guidelines that have been put into place to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“We know that help is on the way with a vaccine, but it is critical that we all continue doing our part to prevent the transmission of this virus until that time arrives,” said MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. “MSU remains committed to working with our partners across Grand River and within our community to limit the spread of COVID-19 and hold accountable those who disregard public health orders or the MSU Community Compact at the expense of the health and safety of our community.”
From education to enforcement, the City of East Lansing, ICHD and MSU have been united since the start of the pandemic in using every tool in their toolbox to protect the health and safety of the Spartan community. Please keep the following in mind:
- An ICHD emergency order remains in place prohibiting outdoor gatherings of no more than 10 people in parts of East Lansing. Additionally, indoor gatherings are limited to no more than 10 people and no more than two households per a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) order. For additional information on gathering restrictions, view both orders.
- Face coverings that cover both the mouth and nose are required at all times, both indoors and outdoors, on MSU’s campus and in downtown East Lansing.
- A City of East Lansing emergency ordinance remains in place that imposes fines of $500 for violating public health orders, including the size limits for social gatherings.
- A COVID-19 exposure notification app, MI COVID Alert, is available, which MSU students, faculty and staff as well as members of the local community are encouraged to download.
- COVID-19 testing is mandatory for all undergraduate students living on the MSU campus or coming to campus for any reason this spring semester.
- All who visit the MSU campus this spring semester are required to abide by a revised MSU Community Compact.
“As the vaccine continues to be distributed in the weeks and months ahead, it is vital that we don’t let our guard down,” said East Lansing Mayor Aaron Stephens. “The spread of COVID-19 is still very real in our community and we all need to continue to do what we can to protect ourselves and those around us. That means continuing to wear a mask when we go out, keeping at least a six-foot distance from those not in our household, washing our hands frequently and avoiding large gatherings.”
“There is a vaccine that is 95 percent effective, but not nearly enough people have been vaccinated yet to impact community-wide spread,” said Ingham County Health Officer Linda S. Vail. “COVID-19 cases and positivity rates are high right now. Please remain vigilant. Everyone wants the pandemic to end. We must take every precaution available to us.”