(WWJ) In an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus, health inspectors and police officers will visit Detroit bars and restaurants today to make sure they're following limited capacity and social distancing orders. This comes as Michigan sees the highest infection numbers in a month.
In announcing the stepped-up enforcement, Mayor Mike Duggan said there have been some establishments that have exceeded 50-percent capacity and are not following safety protocols.
The mayor says it could take only three or four places to spike the numbers of cases in the city -- and he doesn't want that to happen. Three hundred and fifty three positive COVID-19 cases were reported Thursday, bringing the total to 62,306 cases in Michigan.
That's the highest daily case count so far in June.
At the same time, some Detroiters have bristled under stay-at-home and social distancing orders. Last month, so many refused to follow then-strict orders to stay home unless necessary and enjoy the outdoors apart from anyone else, that Detroit police headed out and wrote tickets to people who weren't following social distancing protocols. Detroit police wrote 272 tickets and gave 768 warnings to people violating coronavirus (COVID-19) social distancing orders over a singled weekend in early May.
A month ago, metro Detroit also got a D- in following social distancing protocols.
As for bars and restaurants now allowed to open at limited capacity and with social distancing, Duggan said those in violation will be put on notice, and the City will pursue legal action against establishments that continue to disregard the guidelines.
He added that he wouldn't allow a 'handful of businesses' to jeopardize the operations at other businesses that are following the guidelines.
