During a press conference on Monday, Whitmer announced her newest order, which allows businesses in the upper peninsula and parts of the lower peninsula could reopen and operate in a limited capacity.
The reopening will take place Friday. Bars and restaurants will have to limit their capacity to 50%. Groups will be required to stay six feet apart, and servers will have to wear face coverings.
The move will affect two of the eight regions identified in the governor’s gradual reopening plan amid the coronavirus pandemic: one covers the Upper Peninsula and another includes 17 counties in the northern Lower Peninsula, including Traverse City.
There has been heavy opposition to Whitmer’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic in the Republican Legislature. The decision is one that Republicans have pressed for weeks, despite Whitmer’s emphasis on maintaining blanket bans on business across the state.
However, Whitmer has continued to take a cautious approach to reopening Michigan. While the Big Three automakers reopened Monday and other services, such as landscaping and construction, have been methodically resumed, Whitmer said her priority is safety.
The decision also reflects the state’s declining spread of new coronavirus cases. On top of its most encouraging daily reports since the outbreak first began, Michigan confirmed only 11 more deaths on Sunday.
Whitmer announced last week that gatherings of up to 10 people could possibly be allowed by May 28, when the current stay-at-home order expires. But during Friday’s briefing, she said Michigan isn’t yet ready to enter the fourth stage of her six-step reopening plan.
