Michiganders can eat indoors again at restaurants from Feb. 1, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced at a news conference Friday.
“The break worked,” Whitmer said. “The efforts we have made together to protect our families, frontline workers and hospitals have dramatically reduced the consequences and we have saved lives. We are now confident that restaurants will be able to eat indoors again from 1 February with safety precautions. ”
Before the Department of Health and Human Services launched a three-week epidemic order restricting social gatherings on Nov. 15, Michigan had 734 cases of Coivd-19 per million residents, Whitmer said. According to the Governor, the state has now seen a 70% reduction to 177 cases per million.
‘I know this pandemic has hurt our restaurant owners, our restaurant workers and all their families. “I want to thank those who have made incredible sacrifices, and have done their part, on behalf of the protection of our communities against Covid,” Whitmer said.
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, medical chief of the Department of Health and Human Services in Michigan, further explained that restaurants will operate at 25% and must follow a curfew.
‘I’m glad we can continue this way. We know our restaurant owners want to protect their patrons and help end this pandemic, ” Khaldun said, adding that she would like to remind people that scientists and doctors have repeatedly said that indoors, with no mask on, is one of the riskiest. activities are. people can do when it comes to distributing Covid-19.
“So, now people have a choice. The safest thing to do, especially if you are elderly, if you have underlying medical conditions, or if you live with someone who is elderly or have underlying medical conditions, “Khaldun said.” The safest thing to do is not to to be inside a restaurant, but we still want you to order from them. You can support them with delivery or by eating out. “