LANSING, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) — Governor Gretchen Whitmer has halted indoor bar service throughout most of lower Michigan, signing Executive Order 2020-143.
The exceptions are Regions 6 and 8 — the Upper Peninsula and much of northern Michigan.
Bars statewide can continue to serve outdoors; Whitmer also signed a package of bills (Senate Bill 942 and House Bills 5781 and 5811) allowing to-go cocktails-to-go at bars and restaurants.
A statement issued by Whitmer’s office on the decisions indicated the intent is to protect the progress made in reducing COVID-19 cases and preventing the kind of resurgence other states are now seeing.
“Following recent outbreaks tied to bars, I am taking this action today to slow the spread of the virus and keep people safe,” Whitmer’s statement read, in part. “If we want to be in a strong position to reopen schools for in-person classroom instruction this fall, then we need to take aggressive action right now to ensure we don’t wipe out all the progress we have made.”
Over the past week, every region in Michigan has seen an uptick in new cases. Daily case counts now exceed 20 cases per million in the Grand Rapids, Lansing and Kalamazoo regions.
Younger people are being diagnosed: Nearly 25 percent of diagnoses in June were of people ages 20 to 29, up from roughly 16 percent in May and similar to national trends.
State officials say evidence suggests young people may be driving a new phase of the pandemic.
Ingham County health officials linked 107 confirmed COVID-19 cases to an outbreak in a single bar in East Lansing. Similar super-spreader events have been documented in bars in Florida, Louisiana, Texas and elsewhere.
People crowded inside sometimes poorly ventilated bars for extended periods made it easy to spread COVID-19 from person to person, especially when they are shouting conversations over crowd noise, loud music or a combination of noises.
People drinking alcohol may be less diligent about using masks or practicing physical distancing, and in general have fewer inhibitions.
“I urge all Michiganders to double down on mitigation tactics like wearing masks, practicing physical distancing, and washing hands, so we can get our trajectory headed in the right direction again,” Whitmer said. “If we open up our economy too quickly, the efforts of the last three months will be for nothing and we will have to go through this pain all over again and put our economy, health and medical system at risk. Nobody wants to move backward. Everyone, please do your part, and let’s show the nation and the world how smart we are.”
The governor’s order applies to businesses with on-premises retailer liquor licenses that earn more than 70% of their gross receipts from alcohol sales. That means that most brewpubs, distilleries, and vineyards can stay open indoors. Traditional bars, nightclubs, and strip clubs will have to end indoor service.
The bills Whitmer signed allow bars and restaurants to sell cocktails-to-go and expand social districts, allowing for more outdoor seating and areas for people to safely congregate while practicing physical distancing.
“Bars will not have to close down completely, but may still offer outdoor seating and use creative methods like cocktails-to-go in hopes that we can bring our numbers down,” Governor Whitmer said. “I am hopeful providing options for cocktails-to-go and expanded social districts will ensure these businesses can remain open and Michiganders can safely and responsibly enjoy their summer outdoors.”
Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
