West Michigan Reacts to Relaxed Mask Rules

It's been a crazy 24 hours in our current pandemic life, and a big step forward for those of us who are lucky enough to be fully vaccinated. The CDC has essentially said that those fully vaxxed can ditch the mask nearly everywhere.

As the State of Michigan has done before, they've applied the recommendations from the CDC for use as health orders from the Michigan Department Of Health and Human Services. As of Saturday morning at 9am, the health order requiring use of a mask for the fully vaccinated will be rescinded. Those who are not fully vaccinated are still required to wear a mask as they have before.

Neither the CDC guidelines, nor the state recommendations, preclude private business owners from requiring masks, regardless of vaccination status. As such, some businesses like Meijer, are still asking patrons to wear masks:

While we are aware of new CDC guidance, many state or local orders in the Meijer footprint remain in effect regarding masks. In order to help ensure the continued health and safety of all its team members and customers, Meijer continues to require face coverings by anyone entering a Meijer store or Meijer Express station at all locations, except where medical conditions prevent them from wearing one.

Restaurants in the area are taking different approaches depending where you go,
The Mitten Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, asks that you still wear masks:

While the CDC's recent announcement is good news, masks are still required at The Mitten until further notice. If your intention is to challenge that notion and abuse our staff...STAY HOME.

Others, like Northern Trails Bar & Grill in Newaygo County, ask customers to use the 'honor system':

It has just been announced today that the mandatory mask mandate has been lifted for those individuals who have been fully vaccinated. As this makes it impossible for us to enforce masks throughout the establishment, we request that our customers operate on the honor system in regards to their own safety.

Some in West Michigan aren't sure about taking off the mask quite yet and let us know on our social channels:

And the ones who aren't vaccinated are the same ones who didn't want to wear the masks in the first place, you know fully well they are going to use this to stop, vaccinated or not. Should not have done this yet, really bad move. -Kimberly Motherwell to Mix957

until we hit a certain vax rate, my boys and I will be continuing to wear ours because you know anti-maskers will be out in full force taking advantage. -Tonya Goven Sanchez to Mix957

Can't wait for those "I got the shot" to start yelling at the store for when the store tells them they still need a mask to enter. -Kurt Lockwood to 97.9 GRD

What about you, are you fully vaxxed but keeping the mask?