Actions

Governor Whitmer appeals order allowing Michigan gyms to reopen later this week

Posted at 3:39 PM, Jun 22, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-22 18:56:01-04

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has appealed a federal judge's ruling that allows indoor gyms in Michigan to reopen this Thursday.

Indoor gyms to reopen in Michigan under order from federal judge

Whitmer filed the response in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday. The plaintiffs in the case, the League of Independent Fitness Facilities and Trainers, responded to the motion Monday.

It's not known when the court will rule on the governor's motion.

The appeal comes after an opinion published Friday by U.S. District Court Judge Paul Maloney, who said the state presented a "blanket 'trust us' statement that is insufficient to uphold a no-longer-blanket rule" in ordering gyms to remain open.

Under the order, all gyms with indoor facilities in the state will be allowed to open on Thursday, June 25 at 12:01 a.m.

The lawsuit by the League of Independent Fitness Facilities and Trainers, Inc. continues to await a full hearing in the Western District Court in Grand Rapids.

“With this ruling, the court is playing a dangerous role it should not play: second-guessing and upending the data-informed decisions that have saved thousands of lives in Michigan," Whitmer said in a statement previously. "The idea that gyms – with their high levels of heavy respiratory activity, shared indoor spaces, and shared surfaces – might be one of the later businesses to come back online in the midst of this global pandemic is hardly surprising and highly sensible.”

Additional Coronavirus information and resources:

Read our daily Coronavirus Live Blog for the latest updates and news on coronavirus.

Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.

View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.

Find out how you can help metro Detroit restaurants struggling during the pandemic.

See all of our Helping Each Other stories.

See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.