Hearing Held On Legality Of Athlete Testing Rules

LANSING---A hearing was held Tuesday in the Michigan Court of Claims on the legality of the reuirement that Michigan teenaged athletes be tested for COVID-19 in order to play.

The group "Let Them Play Michigan" says the state health department has not followed proper procedures in making the rules, so they should be voided. They also object to what they consider a violation of civil liberties, and claims that the decision to test or not should be left to parents.

The group also opposes mandatory contact tracing quarantines, which it says are arbitray and unevenly applied.

The question before Judge Michael Kelly on Tuesday was not specifically that testing is ivasive, but that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services did not follow proper procedures when it issued its guidance last month. The state health department says the restrictions are needed to slow the spread of COVID-19 in schools.

The plaintiff claims that MDHHS cannot make these rues without first having public comment and holding hearings.

The group is asking for an emergency injunction against MDHHS, which would put testing requirements on hold. A decision is expected by Friday.