(WWJ) In a story you heard first on WWJ Newsradio950, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will shutter all Michigan bars, restaurants, gyms and more starting at roughly 3 p.m. Monday, the day before St. Patrick's Day.
The following places will be closed: restaurants, cafes, coffee houses, bars, taverns, brewpubs, distilleries, clubs, movie theaters, indoor and outdoor performance venues, gymnasiums, fitness centers, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities, exercise studios, spasand and casinos.
This order does not restrict those restaurants from offering food and drinks using delivery service, window service, walk-up service, or drive-through service.
Order restrictions will remain in place until Monday, March 30 at 11:59 pm.
The restrictions do not apply to the following locations: office buildings, grocery stores, markets, food pantries, pharmacies, drug stores, and providers of medical equipment and supplies, health care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities, juvenile justice facilities, warehouse and distribution centers or industrial and manufacturing facilities.
Why did Whitmer make this decision? It's about keeping the public safe as research shows the virus spreads quickly among large groups of people.
“This disease is a challenge unlike any we’ve experienced in our lifetimes,” said the governor, in a statement. “Fighting it will cause significant but temporary changes to our daily lives. By practicing social distancing and taking aggressive action now, the state is working to mitigate the spread of coronavirus so we reduce the risk that our health care system becomes overwhelmed. This is about saving lives. Michiganders are tough and we are going to get through this, but it will require everyone doing their part. That means making smart choices and not putting yourself or others at risk by going out in public unless it is absolutely necessary.”
The news comes on the first day all Michigan public schools and universities were closed,
The governor mentioned during a presser Sunday night that she was upset to see videos of college students packing local bars late into the night.
As crowds lessened in other places, staff pushed out messages reminding the public that takeout and gift cards are always an option and would help keep local business afloat.
The governor's move to close bars and restaurants in Michigan comes after Ohio did the same thing Sunday.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he decided on the shutdown after hearing from people around the state Saturday night who were concerned about crowded bars. "He said he was worried that with St. Patrick’s Day coming up Tuesday, people would ignore warnings and go out to bars," per the Columbus Post Dispatch.
WWJ's Ron Dewey immediately caught up with the owner of L George Coney Island in Farmington Hills, who was disappointed over the decision. He said he's keeping his restaurant clean enough for safety. "It's an overreaction, but what are you gonna do?" he said.
There are 53 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Michigan, and possibly "thousands more" that have gone undiagnosed, per top health experts.
Catch up on the latest coronavirus news in Michigan HERE.