Michigan officials on Friday ordered children as young as two to wear masks in a bid to curb the rise in COVID-19 cases the state has seen in recent weeks. Under the previous version of the state’s Gatherings and Mask epidemic order, children under five were exempt from masking requirements. “Expanding the mask rule to children ages two to four requires a good faith effort to ensure that these children wear masks while in gatherings at childcare facilities or camps,” the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement. The expanded mandate, which takes effect on April 26, follows guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to the state. Elizabeth Hertel, Michigan’s health director, said the expanded mandate was an example of the “smart health policies and mitigation measures” that the state has employed to try to stem the spread …