Many of Michigan’s businesses closed in March to limit the spread of the coronavirus will remain closed through most of the month of May.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order late Thursday, April 30, to extend the temporary ban on dine-in services and the closure of places of public accommodation like bars, coffeehouses, theaters, indoor and outdoor performance venues, libraries, museums, fitness centers, casinos and salons.
The governor also extended the state of emergency declaration without the support of the majority Republican legislature after it declined to extend the order that was set to expire at 11:59 p.m. Thursday.
“Although we are beginning to see the curve flatten, we are not out of the woods yet," Whitmer said in a press release. “We must all continue to be diligent, observe social distancing and limit in-person interactions and services to slow the spread of COVID-19.”
Michigan has reported 41,379 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including in 3,789 residents who have died. The state ranks third in deaths and seventh in cases across the country, despite having the 10th-highest population.
“Extending this order is vital to the health and safety of every Michigander,” Whitmer said. "If we work together and do our part, we can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.”
Whitmer’s orders followed a day in which hundreds of protesters from across the state gathered on the Capitol lawn and in the building itself to demand the legislature not extend the governor’s state of emergency declaration.
The governor’s office indicated Thursday that Whitmer would not sign Senate Bill 858, which included a provision to allow restaurants, bars, gyms and other public-facing businesses to open May 15 with some social distancing restrictions.
The bill “does not comply with constitutional requirements” and the governor won’t sign bills that constrain her ability to protect Michigan residents from COVID-19, according to a statement from the governor’s office.
Executive Order 2020-69 places temporary restrictions on the use of places of public accommodation until 11:59 p.m. May 28. It includes businesses that provide personal care services including hair, nail, tanning, massage, spa, tattoo, body art, and piercing services, and businesses of public amusement including arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, indoor climbing facilities, skating rinks, and trampoline parks.
Businesses can continue to offer delivery, window, walk-up, drive-thru and drive-up services with precautions to mitigate the potential transmission of COVID-19, including social distancing and permitting up to five members of the public inside at one time to pick up their food or beverage orders.
The order does not prohibit an employee, contractor, vendor, or supplier of a place of public accommodation from entering, exiting, using, or occupying that place of public accommodation in their professional capacity.
Thursday’s executive order extension still does not apply to health care facilities, residential care facilities, juvenile justice facilities, crisis shelters, grocery stores, markets, convenience stores, pharmacies, drug stores, food pantries that offer food and beverage for off-site consumption.
The full executive order can be read here, on Michigan.gov.
From mid-March to April 25, Michigan has had 1.26 million workers file for unemployment. Across the country, more than 30 million workers have filed for unemployment due to economic strains associated with COVID-19.
CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS
In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.
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