(LANSING) – Wearing a mask is essential to slowing the spread of COVID-19 in Michigan.

That was part of the message delivered Wednesday by Governor Gretchen Whitmer during an update on the state's fight against the coronavirus. With the number of COVID-19 cases up around the state, Whitmer says there is only one way to bring them down. ...... {LISTEN}.

Whitmer says it all comes down to a simple decision. ...... {LISTEN}.

On Monday, Executive Order 2020-147 went into effect, It requires individuals to wear masks whenever they are in an indoor public space in Michigan along with crowded outdoor spaces. It also requires any business that is open to the public to refuse entry or service to people who do not wear a face covering, with limited exceptions. A willful violation of the order is a misdemeanor, subject to a $500 criminal penalty.