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Dear Licensed Migrant Labor Housing Providers:
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) recently updated its COVID-19 testing orders for agricultural workers to align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. Much of this change is related to the vaccination status of migrant workers/residents. The updated orders do NOT affect the Pandemic Public Health Measures in Migrant Agricultural Worker Housing Emergency Rules.
To provide clarity and a quick reference regarding the revisions, below are some of the highlights from the June 11, 2021, MDHHS update:
- Provide testing for all newly arriving residents within 48 hours after arrival unless the resident is fully vaccinated and is not exhibiting the principal symptoms of COVID-19 or has already been tested in the previous 72 hours. This includes any individuals ages 13 and over. Youth under the age of 13 are exempt from the testing requirements.
- Provide a second test to unvaccinated residents 10-14 days after arrival unless they are fully vaccinated.
- To the greatest extent possible, house newly arriving residents in a separate living unit from current residents for the number of days directed by the CDC, which is currently 14 days after arrival, unless they are fully vaccinated. If housing in a separate living unit cannot be accomplished, newly arriving residents, regardless of vaccination status, should wear a face mask at all times during the first 14 days after arrival, or the number of days as directed by the CDC, including in dwelling units and after work hours, except when eating, drinking, or performing personal hygiene activities or if the resident cannot medically tolerate a face mask.
- Provide testing for any housing resident exhibiting the principal symptoms of COVID-19 or has suspected exposure to COVID-19, regardless of that individual’s vaccination status.
The order also includes some new definitions:
- “Close contact” or “Exposure” means being within two meters of an infected person for at least 15 minutes within a 24-hour period starting from two days before illness onset; or, for asymptomatic cases, two days prior to positive specimen collection until the time the patient is isolated.
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“Fully vaccinated” is defined as a person who has received their second dose in a two-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) plus at least two weeks or a person who has received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson) plus at least two weeks.
Vaccination status can be verified in any one of the following three ways:
- An employer’s own record reflecting a resident’s or worker’s receipt of vaccination dose(s) through onsite vaccination events.
- Michigan Care Improvement Registry or other official immunization record from a local health department, hospital, pharmacy, or health system (including individual doctor’s office) that includes the name, date of birth, medical record number, or other unique identifiers to link the record to the vaccinated resident or worker.
- A resident’s or worker’s presentation of a valid CDC vaccination card.
MDARD values your commitment to the health and safety of our food and agricultural workers. If you have any additional questions, please contact MDHHS at MDHHS-Migrant-Affairs@Michigan.gov.
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Contact the Migrant Labor Housing Program:
Constitution Hall
525 West Allegan Street
6th Floor, P.O. Box 30017
Lansing, MI 48909
800-292-3939
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