(WWJ) There's good news for business owners and residents clamoring for relaxed coronavirus-related restrictions on Michigan.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, standing with representatives from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, on Tuesday said more Michiganders will be "able to enjoy life's simplest pleasures" under updated rules in effect beginning this Friday.
The latest public health order increases business capacity limits — allowing more patrons inside restaurants and stores. Also, more people will be allowed to gather together indoors — such as for a meeting — and outdoor events will be permitted to increase in size.
"Of course, we are doing this incrementally, but these are all of the places where we can safely do more," Whitmer said.
"The increased capacity limits outlined in this order will still give us the ability to protect public health as we carefully track variants, and continue leading with science and data...and will also enable more people to go back to work."
"And I am proud that we are able to take this positive step without compromising public health."
Changes to the Gatherings and Mask Order go into effect Friday, March 5, and remain in effect through Monday, April 19.
Here are some details:
- Restaurants and bars are allowed to be at 50% capacity up to 100 people. Tables must be six feet apart with no more than six people per table. There is now an 11 p.m. curfew.
- People who with a negative COVID-19 test will be allowed to visit family members nursing homes. Visitors are limited to two at a time per resident, but both indoor and outdoor visits will be permitted at longterm care facilities statewide.
- Retail shops are allowed to operate at 50% indoor capacity, up from 30%.
- Indoor private residential gatherings are capped at 15 people from three separate households. Outdoor residential gatherings are allowed to have up to 50 people.
- Indoor gatherings involving people from different households are allowed to have up to 25 people. This likely means public events, like city council meetings, and small public gatherings can legally resume in-person.
- Outdoor gatherings can resume with up to 300 people.
- Venues such as like movie theaters, bowling alleys and other entertainment purveyors may also increase indoor capacity to 50%, up to 300 people.
- Athletic stadiums and arenas that seat 10,000 people or fewer may allow up to 375 attendees. If the seating capacity is above 10,000, they can have 750 people.
- Casinos are allowed to function at 30% indoor capacity.
- Gyms are allowed to operate at 30% capacity, but workout machines must remain at least six feet apart.
- READ COMPLETE DETAILS HERE -
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This comes as COVID-19 numbers are dropping in Michigan — including stats that Whitmer said would be used to determine when restrictions could be loosened eased..
MDHHS had been closely monitoring three metrics for stabilization or declines over the past several weeks.
In recent days:
- Hospital capacity dedicated to COVID-19 is now at 3.9%. This metric peaked at 19.6% on Tuesday, Dec. 4.
- Overall case rates: After declining for six weeks, this metric is plateauing at 91.2 cases per million. The rate is similar to what we were at the beginning of October.
- Positivity rate: is now at 3.7% having increased slightly from last week (3.5%). This metric is similar to where we were at the beginning of October.
“This is good news,” Whitmer, adding that Michiganders must “redouble our effort” to limit the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said more than 2 million doses of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine have been administered and a third vaccine will soon be arriving here in Michigan to help us end the pandemic in our state. “We continue to monitor the data closely, and based on current trends we are taking another step toward normalcy. We urge Michiganders to continue doing what works and wearing a mask, washing their hands and avoiding crowds," she said.
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Health officials remain concerned about the spread virus variants; including the more contagious B.1.1.7 strain first found in the U.K., which has been identified in Michigan.
The presence of more infectious variants, "threatens our progress in control of the epidemic," the health department said, and MDHHS will be monitoring the data closely.
The latest information on the coronavirus in Michigan, including about testing sites and vaccinations, can be found at michigan.gov/coronavirus/.