Michigan ups stadium capacity, requires teen athlete testing

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan on Friday eased outdoor stadium capacity restrictions before baseball's opening day but ordered weekly rapid testing of teen athletes amid a climbing coronavirus case rate that ranks fourth nationally over the past week.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said, for now, she does not plan to tighten COVID-19 restrictions her administration had gradually loosened in recent months — noting ongoing vaccinations while also citing concerns about virus variants that more easily spread.

“If we all take our own personal responsibility here, we can keep these things reengaged and do it safely,” the Democratic governor said during a news conference, in which a top state health official warned the state may be at the beginning of a third surge.

Under a revised health order that takes effect Monday, certain outdoor arenas and stadiums — including the Detroit Tigers' Comerica Park — can seat 20% of their capacity if they have an infection-control plan that complies with state guidance. The cap, which has been 1,000, will rise to around 8,200 for Tigers games.

Detroit was the 29th of 30 major league teams to announce its plans. Only Houston still had not. The Tigers said limited individual game tickets will be available on the team’s website beginning Thursday.

Starting April 2, all athletes ages 13 to 19 must participate in a free weekly coronavirus testing program. It previously had been voluntary except for school-sanctioned winter sports where masks are not recommended, such as wrestling. Testing also was used to finish the fall football, volleyball, and swimming and diving tournaments when they resumed in January.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan's chief medical executive, pointed to 315 outbreaks associated with sports teams in January and February. The Whitmer administration lifted a monthslong...