The state is easing some of the requirements -- especially for those who are outside and vaccinated.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced Tuesday that masks will generally not be required at outdoor gatherings that has less than 100 people.

The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging Michigan -- and other states struggling with increased COVID-19 spread -- to impose restrictions to curb infections.

GROSSE POINTE WOODS, Mich. – Michigan high school winter contact sports were allowed to resume beginning Feb. 8, and parents and student athlete are happy to be back in action. “It means the world for her to be able to get back on the ice and play,” said Erin Grom, whose daughter Kiera is a freshman forward on Livonia girls hockey team. Grom can recall when she found out hockey, wrestling, basketball and competitive cheer would be able to resume. According to the Michigan High School Athletic Association, things have been smooth so far. READ: Michigan youth contact sports resume -- here are all the rules, specifics and detailsREAD: Timeline, tournament dates for Michigan high school basketball, hockey, wrestling, cheer

The battle over high school sports may be settled for now in Michigan, but there’s a new issue emerging because of the coronavirus pandemic. A lot of referees are choosing to stay on the sidelines and sitting it out, at least for now, and the Michigan High School Athletic Association will have to work around it. He said that’s worst-case scenario because the MHSAA is determined to let student athletes play despite officials being down in Michigan by about 30%. Scott Waldendowski -- who officiates in the Macomb Area Conference -- said he sees firsthand there’s a lot of work for officials like himself. READ: Michigan high school basketball, hockey players have to wear masks during gamesDue to the shortage, MHSAA is currently hiring.

DETROIT – High school sports are set to resume Monday morning in the state of Michigan. Not just the athletes, the parents, the teachers and coaches that have worked hard to train their teams. Catholic Central High School Head Varsity Basketball Coach, Brandon Sinawi said his team is more than ready to get back out on the court -- as youth contact sports are allowed to resume in Michigan. READ: Michigan youth contact sports can resume Monday -- here are all the rules, specifics and details“We’re just we’re excited to get going. The locker-room will be closed and all players and coaches will have to be tested on a regular basis.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan’s top health official is asking residents to avoid gathering with others for Super Bowl parties due to the threat of spreading COVID-19. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said during Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Thursday (Feb. 4) that Michiganders should not let their guard down for Super Bowl Sunday. Ad“This Super Bowl Sunday, please avoid gatherings, and if you do gather, please keep it limited to only one other household, and make sure you’re wearing a mask, socially distancing and washing your hands frequently,” Khaldun said. But Khaldun said it’s important not to let the Super Bowl cause a spike in cases that could make the state move backwards.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan has confirmed 28 total cases of the COVID-19 B117 variant in Washtenaw and Wayne counties, according to state officials. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said during Gov. “This variant is more easily spread from person to person,” Khaldun said. “If this variant becomes more common, as national experts predict it could, then we could see a very rapid rise in cases and more hospitalizations and deaths.”So far, 28 cases of the B117 variant have been identified in Michigan, all in Washtenaw and Wayne counties, Khaldun said. The B117 variant, which was traced back to the United Kingdom, has already shut down the entire University of Michigan athletic department.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan’s most important COVID-19 numbers are once again trending in the right direction, according to the state’s top doctor. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, provided updated numbers Thursday (Feb. 4) during Gov. The Detroit, Traverse City and Upper Peninsula regions all have case rates below 150 cases per million people, according to Khaldun. AdRight now, 6.6% of the state’s hospital beds are filled with COVID-19 patients, according to Khaldun. “Michiganders are doing their part by wearing masks, avoiding gatherings and socially distancing.”On Thursday, state officials announced 1,358 new COVID-19 cases and 74 additional deaths.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer revealed Thursday that more than 1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered across the state. By the end of Wednesday, the state had administered exactly 1,076,545 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the governor. “That number is going up as we speak,” Whitmer said. AdOfficials wanted to make teachers eligible for vaccination after setting a goal of offering in-person learning to all students by March 1.

Basketball is among the sports allowed to resume Monday at the youth level in Michigan. LANSING, Mich. – Michigan officials announced Thursday that youth contact sports will be allowed to resume next week. They were asked whether a COVID-19 outbreak among sports teams could lead to a shutdown if it threatens in-person learning. She reiterated that MDHHS will watch the COVID-19 numbers and monitor potential outbreaks closely. For contact sports to resume, masks must be worn during practices and competition, Whitmer said.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan officials announced that high school basketball, ice hockey, wrestling and competitive cheer can resume next week. AdFor contact sports to resume, masks must be worn at all times during practices and competition, Whitmer said. AdWhen not actively playing, participants must maintain six feet of distance and wear face masks at all times, Whitmer said. One lawsuit filed against the state health director claims the high school sports shutdown might have contributed to the death of a teen hockey player. Their lawsuit asked a judge to grant an injunction, sending high school athletes back into action, not just practice.

Gretchen Whitmer provided an update on the state’s COVID-19 situation, addressing high school contact sports, the spread of a COVID variant, vaccinations and the latest virus trends. Khaldun and Whitmer were asked about balancing the resumption of sports and the risk of COVID-19 spread that could lead to students not being able to go to school. Michigan COVID metricsKhaldun revealed promising movement with Michigan’s three most important COVID-19 metrics. AdOn Thursday, state officials announced 1,358 new COVID-19 cases and 74 additional deaths. B117 variantThe new variant of COVID-19, B117, which shut down the University of Michigan athletic department for two weeks, is still a concern for officials.

Basketball is among the contact sports allowed to resume under the new order. LANSING, Mich. – Michigan youth contact sports will be allowed to resume practices and games starting on Monday (Feb. 8), with certain COVID-19 safety rules in place, Gov. For contact sports to resume, masks must be worn at all times during practices and competition, Whitmer said. Hertel said additional guidances will be released by Monday to help teams and parents prepare to resume under the new rules. ‘Let Them Play’ respondsThe attorney for the Let Them Play Michigan coalition released the following statement following the announcement that contact sports will resume:“Let Them Play Michigan appreciates Director Hertel’s efforts to move this important issue forward in a timely manner.

Gretchen Whitmer is expected to announce that Michigan youth contact sports will be allowed to resume with COVID-19 safety measures in place, Local 4 has confirmed. UPDATE: Michigan youth contact sports can resume Monday -- here are all the rules, specifics and detailsParents, coaches and athletes involved in contact sports that are currently shut down due to the pandemic have voiced their desire to return. Ad“To be direct, winter ‘contact’ sports need to start,” Vitti wrote. “The continuing suspension of winter ‘contact’ sports contradicts the message that it is safe to return to in-person learning,” Vitti wrote. Their lawsuit is asking a judge to grant an injunction, sending high school athletes back into action, not just practice.

LANSING, Mich. – Parents and student athletes rallied in Lansing Saturday to urge state officials to resume winter sports sooner than the Feb. 21 deadline. “The kids need to play. “Going forward, these kids need something. “The opportunities that these kids are missing out on are building relationships with their friends and community,” Hutson said. It’s absolutely terrible.”More: Michigan parents set to file lawsuit demanding restart of high school sports

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan High School Athletic Association is pushing for high school sports to resume before the current Feb. 21 deadline. There was a legislative hearing Thursday that resulted in an unanimous senate resolution that said high school sports should start earlier. The Michigan High School Athletic Association’s executive director, Mark Uyl, held a press conference Friday where he said their data suggests high school sports are good and not a problem. AdMark Uyl, with MSHAA, said their data suggests high school sports are good and not a problem. More: Detroit schools superintendent urges Whitmer to resume high school contact sports

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan High School Athletic Association spoke out Friday on the hiatus of winter sports in the state. They are asking for the state to resume practice and competition in the four main contact sports sooner than the Feb. 21 deadline. Let Them Play, Inc. has been threatening a lawsuit unless winter high school sports are resumed by Monday. Mark Uyl, with MSHAA, said their data suggests high school sports are good and not a problem. More: Detroit schools superintendent urges Whitmer to resume high school contact sports

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan parents and student athletes voiced their concerns at the state Capitol Thursday, hoping to convince Gov. “We’re not given any kind of hope at all, and Feb. 21 isn’t an option. We can’t do all this on Feb. 21. One school superintendent, who also recovered from COVID, described students who came to her office after learning that their season wouldn’t start for weeks. There, outside my office, were high school students from all grade levels.

Michigan parents are in the process of filing a lawsuit against the state over the current pause on high school sports amid the coronavirus pandemic. A few have scholarship opportunities ... it’s part of the health and the welfare of the kids.”More: Michigan parents set to file lawsuit demanding restart of high school sportsAs coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths rose rapidly at the end of 2020, high school sports were put on pause in Michigan to help curb virus spread. Gretchen Whitmer is urging schools to resume in-person learning by March 1, and has extended the pause on high school sports until at least Feb. 21 under Michigan’s latest epidemic order. “The continuing suspension of winter ‘contact’ sports contradicts the message that it is safe to return to in-person learning,” Vitti added. “One only needs to ask any winter ‘contact’ sport athlete and they will tell you we are sending mixed and contradictory messages to them.”More: Detroit schools superintendent urges Whitmer to resume high school contact sports

(Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)ROCHESTER, Mich. – Oakland University basketball coach Greg Kampe is the latest prominent figure to call for Michigan high school sports to resume. “I ask that the latest order be reconsidered and high school athletics (be) reinstated immediately,” Kampe wrote. Michigan high school contact sports ban: What Whitmer said about possibility of resumingKampe, 65, has been a constant in the state’s basketball scene for decades. “They lose the year and the benefits of sport -- team building, memories, physical activity, learning how to win and lose,” Kampe wrote. “Please take a step back and remember that radical statements and radical ideas at a time of crisis never turn out well,” Kampe wrote.

Dr. Nikolai Vitti started the letter by clarifying that he supports Whitmer, but he has grown frustrated by a lack of clarity about when winter contact sports can resume. He said there are continuing and legitimate fears about COVID-19 in the Detroit community, but 31 female and male high school coaches want to play basketball. “The continuing suspension of winter ‘contact’ sports contradicts the message that it is safe to return to in-person learning,” Vitti wrote. “Please do not let this frustration reach the level of a lawsuit against you and the state,” Vitti cautioned. “Coaches, student-athletes and their parents are in conversation with attorneys.”Mental health, physical well-being and scholarship opportunities are being affected, he said.