LANSING, Mich. (Great Lakes News) – The lockout of high school winter contact sports is no more.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced this afternoon that high school contact sports can resume on Monday, February 8th, with restrictions.

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Her announcement comes after “Let Them Play,” a group of student athletes, parents, coaches, and school administrators, filed a lawsuit against the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Director Elizabeth Hertel earlier this week.

While Whitmer boasted that Michigan “continues to be a national leader in fighting this virus,” it should be noted the state remained an outlier compared to the rest of the country. Most of Michigan’s surrounding states have resumed student sports and opened up their economies months ago.

Players must wear masks during games and practice. The order is set to expire on March 29th.