State officials are aiming to allow indoor dining at restaurants again beginning February 1.
That would be the first time customers could dine indoors since November 17.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services extended its epidemic order on Wednesday (January 13), but updated it to allow some activities — that allow people to remain masked and distanced — to reopen.
“We are reopening cautiously because caution is working to save lives. The new order allows group exercise and non-contact sports, always with masks and social distancing, because in the winter it’s not as easy to get out and exercise and physical activity is important for physical and mental health,” MDHHS Director Robert Gordon said in a press release. “We are glad that we made it through the holidays without a big increase in numbers, but there are also worrying signs in the new numbers. We need to remain focused and continue to see declines in hospitalizations and to bring case rates and percent positivity down by doing what we know works.”
The new order begins Saturday (January 16) and remains in effect through January 31.
Although indoor dining will not come back on Saturday, officials aim to bring it back after this month, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. That will depend on COVID-19 trends over the next two weeks.
“The working plan is to open indoor dining with mitigation measures, capacity limits and a curfew on February 1, but the ultimate decision depends on data continuing to stabilize. Additional details on the reopening pathway are expected next week,” according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Restaurants and bars can still offer carryout and delivery options, as well as serving customers outside.
“The efforts we have made together to protect our families, frontline workers and small business owners are working. While there has been a slight uptick in our percent positivity rate, our cases per million have plateaued and more hospital beds are becoming available. Today, we are confident that MDHHS can lift some of the protocols that were previously in place,” Whitmer said in the release. “Michigan is once again standing out as a nationwide leader in fighting this virus, and we must continue working to keep it that way. One of the most important things Michiganders can do is to make a plan to get the safe and effective vaccine when it’s available to you. And as always, mask up and maintain six feet of social distancing. We will end this pandemic together.”
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