Gov.: Businesses in northern Michigan can reopen Friday.
On Monday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that retail businesses in much of northern Michigan, including restaurants and bars, can reopen starting Friday, May 22.
Executive Order 2020-92 requires all bars and restaurants to limit their capacity to 50%, all servers to wear face masks and follow rigorous disinfection protocols, and all groups to remain at least six feet apart. All businesses reopening must also follow strict safety guidelines under Executive Order 2020-91.
As part of the new orders, employers are required to provide employee training to include, at a minimum, workplace infection-control practices, the proper use of PPE, steps workers must take to notify the business or operation of any symptoms of COVID-19 or a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, and how to report unsafe working conditions. Office work also will be able resume if work cannot be done remotely.
As of Monday, 51,915 COVID-19 infections and 4,915 deaths have been confirmed across the state.
Two of the eight regions identified in the governor’s MI Safe Start Plan are impacted by these orders: Region 6 includes Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Crawford, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Presque Isle, and Emmet counties. Region 8 includes Gogebic, Ontonagon, Houghton, Keweenaw, Iron, Baraga, Dickinson, Marquette, Menominee, Delta, Alger, Schoolcraft, Luce, Mackinac, and Chippewa counties.
Whitmer stressed the importance of “everyone continuing to do their part” in keeping their fellow Michiganders safe, especially as people look to travel up north for the Memorial Day holiday.
She added that businesses and residents in other parts of the state are “counting on regions six and eight to get it right.”
“A small spike could put the hospital systems up there in dire straights pretty quickly,” she said. “This is a big step, but we must all remember to continue doing our part to protect ourselves and our families from the spread of COVID-19. It’s crucial that all businesses do everything in their power to protect their workers, customers, and their families.”
Whitmer added that the new order does not abridge cities, villages, and townships’ ability to take a “more cautious approach”, including limiting bars and restaurants to outdoor seating.
Under Executive Order 2020-91, businesses that resume in-person operations must also develop a COVID-19 preparedness and response plan and make it available to their employees and customers by June 1. To foster compliance, Whitmer also signed Executive Directive 2020-6 to appoint a Director of COVID-19 Workplace Safety within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) to help coordinate safety guidelines across workplaces and ensure workers and employers know the latest ways to keep safe.
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the state’s chief medical executive, said the data shows that these two regions are seeing consistent encouraging trends when it comes to the number of cases, deaths, and the percent of tests that are positive for COVID-19.
“It’s important to note that these businesses must take special precautions to protect Michiganders,” she said. “I also encourage everyone to continue to wear a mask in public, maintain a 6 foot distance from others, and to remain vigilant in washing their hands often. This will help prevent a second surge in cases in our state.”
According to the Michigan Department of Education, hospitals in these two regions are reporting two COVID-19 patients and 1,675 available hospital beds. Since May 10, a total of 2,568 COVID-19 tests were conducted in these two regions, of which 31 were positive (1.2% of the total tests).
Since May 1, state health officials have confirmed 26 COVID-19 infections in these regions. Since March, officials have confirmed over 50 COVID-19 deaths in these regions.
Justin Winslow, President and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, said today marks an important first step of reintegrating restaurants into the fabric of our daily lives.
“Restaurants in the U.P. and northern Michigan understand that with their opportunity comes an extraordinary responsibility to operate in a manner that ensures the safety of their guests and their employees,” he said. “I believe they are up to the challenge.”