Michigan athletic department officials felt they had no choice but to shut down athletics for up to 14 days after receiving what they considered a mandate from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHSS). A spokesperson from the MDHSS said, however, it merely offered recommendations.
While there is disagreement regarding the language of an MDHSS memorandum dated and sent Jan. 23 to the Michigan athletic department and obtained by The Detroit News, the bottom line is Michigan athletics are paused “until further notice and up to 14 days” because of confirmed cases of the COVID-19 variant, B.