Ann Arbor Times

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is asking athletes to spend four consecutive weeks in isolation to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, according to a report by Michigan Capitol Confidential. 

The MDHHS Interim Guidance for Athletics was released in early January and, at first glance, seems to require that athletes do not engage in activities such as grocery shopping, attending church or non-emergency doctor visits for two weeks before a game and two weeks after. 

"During the two weeks before and after events, other than to attend in-person school, athletes should have no social contact outside of teammates, team staff/coaches or their households," the MDHHS document reads. "Athletes should comply with all MDHHS gathering orders. They must completely avoid participation in non-team gatherings, and this should be strictly enforced by team staff and coaches."

According to the article, the state-issued definition of a "gathering" is any indoor or outdoor meeting where two or more people from different households are present in a shared space. 

MDHHS disputes the interpretation of extreme isolation, however. 

“Under our guidance, athletes should not have social contact or gather in groups with others outside of their household or team, except for a few limited circumstances,” said Lynn Sutfin, MDHHS spokesperson, told Michigan Capitol Confidential. “They may attend school or work, receive medical care, get a haircut or be incidentally gathered to receive services, such as grocery shopping or picking up takeout food. They should not attend any organized gatherings (which are not permitted indoors currently) and should not be gathered in entertainment venues like a movie theater or bowling alley.”