LANSING, MI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Bars and restaurants in the state of Michigan are no longer allowed to serve people indoors following a fresh set of COVID-19 restrictions from Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
The order from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) was issued over the weekend.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, promoted the new restrictions on social media, urging residents to follow the “three-week pause” set to begin Wednesday, Nov. 18.
The order from the MDHHS followed a spike in reported case numbers in Michigan and targeted indoor gatherings as a possible cause. The order included a cessation of indoor learning for high schools, colleges, and universities, closure of casinos, theaters, and other public venues, and the suspension of indoor dining. The restrictions are set to go into effect just after midnight on Wednesday morning.
The order was hailed by some in Michigan, including physicians, as a necessary step to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, and state Attorney General Dana Nessel encouraged vigilant enforcement of the order, which included a rule that only two families of separate households be permitted to gather over the next three weeks, possibly curtailing millions of Thanksgiving plans.
“This virus is quickly spreading throughout our state and we must do everything we can to stop it and flatten the curve,” a statement from Nessel’s office said. “As with past orders, county public health departments and local law enforcement are primarily responsible for enforcement in their own communities and we hope they do so. We stand ready to assist them in their efforts.”
Dr. Farhan Bhatti, Michigan State Lead for the Committee to Protect Medicare, said the decision would save “countless lives” as MDHHS Director Robert Gordon said that the state was on track to see up to 1,000 new cases per week if the order was not followed.
But others in Michigan saw the new round of restrictions as a blow to already faltering businesses in the state and many employees facing another potential round of layoffs, with uncertainty about a timeline for additional federal aid.
The Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (MRLA) decried the order as being potentially catastrophic economically.
“We recognize that there are no easy decisions right now and so we have an appreciation of the challenge before Director Gordon and all Michiganders as we continue our fight against COVID-19,” MRLA Director Justin Winslow said in a press release. “That said, we are profoundly disappointed by his decision to shutter restaurants for a second time this year – this time with no safety net of federal stimulus dollars to soften the blow to already ailing operators and employees. While this decision will absolutely lead to a catastrophic economic fallout, the human toll on restaurant owners and their employees will be dramatically worse than what Director Gordon is attempting to mitigate through this Order based upon the department’s own transmission data.”
Winslow also asserted that the holiday closures could cause 250,000 hospitality employees to be laid off with no access to federal stimulus and with no funding left in the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.
Michigan Republicans echoed Winslow’s concerns, even calling for her impeachment following the announcement of the new executive order on Sunday.
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