UPDATE: Governor Whitmer announces sweeping mandatory closings throughout Michigan Monday due to coronavirus

by Hope Salyer

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued executive order No. 2020-9 that will temporarily shut down places of public accommodation to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

The closures must take effect no later than 3 p.m. Monday, March 16 to curb the spread of COVID-19. The businesses affected include: Restaurants, food courts, cafes, coffeehouses, bars, taverns, breweries, wineries, Hookah bars, vaping lunges, theaters, cinemas, indoor and outdoor performance venues, libraries, museums, gymnasiums, fitness center and casinos licensed by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. A full list of businesses required to close can be found in the executive order.

Whitmer encouraged businesses affected by the mandatory closures to offer food and beverage using delivery service, winodw service, walk-up service, drive-through service, etc. while using precautions to mitigate potential transmission of COVID-19.

Exceptions to the restrictions in the order are as follows:

• Places of public accommodation that offer food and beverages not for on-premises consumption, including grocery stores, markets, convenience stores, pharmacies, drug stores, and food pantries
• Health care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities and juvenile justice facilities
• Crisis shelters or similar institutions
• Food courts inside the secured zones of airports

Some local businesses, including Thompson’s Pizza in Chelsea and the Wooden Nickel in Dansville, had announced plans to increase takeout and delivery options prior to the Governor’s order on Monday.

Several other states, including Ohio, Illinois, California and Massachusetts, took similar steps over the weekend.