Restaurants reopen today for indoor dining – here are Michigan’s new rules - MLive.com

For the first time in more than 10 weeks, people can legally eat inside Michigan restaurants again.

Michigan’s dine-in ban expired at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 31. It started Nov. 18 in response to a second wave of high rates of COVID-19 spread.

Until Monday, Michigan was one of only two states still prohibiting indoor dining statewide. While dining rooms are back open, there are still strict limits restaurants must follow.

Related: COVID-19 numbers alone shouldn’t trigger Michigan reopenings, Whitmer says. Critics want a plan.

Here is the latest set of rules, set by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

• Eating and drinking is only allowed in designated seated areas
• Groups must be separated by at least 6 feet
• Groups are limited to six people per table
• Gatherings in common areas (like dance floors) are not allowed
• If an employee tests positive or shows coronavirus symptoms at work, the restaurant must close until it has been deep cleaned to CDC standards
• Capacity is limited to 25% of the normal seating capacity or 100 people, whichever is lower
• Indoor dining is prohibited between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.
• Customers must wear masks at all times, except when eating or drinking
• Restaurants must maintain records of customers for contact tracing, including name, date, time and phone number

While there will be some not willing to eat out because of COVID-19 risks, Small Business Association of Michigan President Brian Calley said he believes the majority of consumers are ready to dine in again.

“I think there’s a lot of pent-up demand,” Calley said. “If you look around the country, there’s plenty of demand in other states for indoor dining. So I don’t think Michigan will be any different.”

Restaurant reopenings will be good for Michigan’s economy, said Calley, a former lieutenant governor.

Michigan was down 60,000 hospitality and leisure jobs in December, alone.

“It’s big for employment, it’s big for our economy, but I think it’s also big for our society,” Calley said. “People break bread together to maintain and build relationships.”

The 25% capacity limits will be tough for businesses that don’t have takeout and outdoor dining available to supplement the income, Calley said. Bars and restaurants that rely on alcohol sales will be hurt most by the 10 p.m. curfew, he added.

But most restaurants will give reopening a shot, Calley said. He hopes Michigan leaders will ease the restrictions after the current 21-day order expires.

In terms of potential future shutdowns, Calley said more restrictions will be harder to justify if COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths continue to decline in Michigan. The state’s MDHHS director can close businesses during an epidemic, per state law, but only to ensure “continuation of essential public health services and enforcement of health laws.”

Dozens of restaurants have been penalized in Michigan for opening illegally during the dine-in ban, or for not following health rules. But thousands of others have followed the rules and prioritized safety.

Customers can report violations to a variety of agencies – including their local health department, the MDHHS or the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.

“Consumers end up voting with their choices,” Calley said. “If they are in a place that is not meeting their values or standards of safety and service … they’ll choose to go elsewhere.”

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