Associated Press
MICHIGAN GOV. GRETCHEN Whitmer addresses the state Wednesday in Lansing, Mich. (Michigan Office of the Governor via AP)
LANSING, Mich. (AP) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday she hopes to let restaurants reopen for indoor dining on Feb. 1, as her health department extended a two-month ban by an additional two weeks while letting non-contact sports resume this weekend.
The plan is to allow dining with mitigation measures, capacity limits and a curfew. Organized non-contact sports and group exercise classes can start Saturday.
“Our numbers have been headed in the right direction,” the Democratic said during a news conference while noting a recent slight uptick in the percent of tests coming back positive. “The pause that (the state) issued is working.”
Michigan's Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey says he tested positive for COVID-19 over Christmas break. He believes he caught it during a visit to the House when he removed his mask for 25 minutes to listen to a colleague's remarks.
Michigan lawmakers came back to the state Capitol building in Lansing on Wednesday to kick off the new legislative session, although circumstances remain far from normal. Both the House and Senate convened for the first time in the new session Wednesday, with the state House formally electing Rep. Jason Wentworth, R-Clare, as new House speaker. Lawmakers face continued challenges dealing with .
Whitmer ‘hopes’ to reopen indoor dining Feb. 1 with capacity limits, curfew
Updated Jan 13, 2021;
Posted Jan 13, 2021
Facebook Share
Michigan is extending the dine-in ban again, although Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said state leaders hope to reopen restaurants on Feb. 1 when the latest extension expires.
If Michigan’s COVID-19 numbers keep declining, Whitmer said indoor dining may be allowed to restart Feb. 1 with mask requirements, capacity limits and a curfew.
More restrictions have been lifted under the latest order, which goes into effect on Saturday, Jan. 16. Indoor fitness classes and non-contact sports can restart, while indoor dining, water parks and night clubs are among the sectors still closed.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, a frequent critic of how the governor has fought the pandemic, did not say how he believes he contracted COVID-19.