As of July 1, Michigan’s Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order closing indoor service at bars through much of Lower Michigan, which still allows to-go cocktails at bars and restaurants. The state joins at least a half-dozen others that’ve made similar moves as COVID-19 cases continue to spike in certain areas.
“We owe it to our front line heroes who have sacrificed so much during this crisis to do everything we can to slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the chance of a resurgence like we are seeing in other states,” the governor said upon making the announcement. “Following recent outbreaks tied to bars, I am taking this action today to slow the spread of the virus and keep people safe. If we want to be in a strong position to reopen schools for in-person classroom instruction this fall, then we need to take aggressive action right now to ensure we don’t wipe out all the progress we have made.”
The order applies to establishments with on-premises retailer liquor licenses that earn more than 70% of their gross receipts from alcohol sales. That generally means that many brewpubs, distilleries and the like will be able to remain open, but leaves most traditional bars out of luck.
Read the full executive order here.
Keep up to date with the closures that will possibly follow by reading Instant RePlay. Take a look at the recent articles below that give some details about bar closures in other states.
Colorado: www.replaymag.com/colorado-joins-growing-list-of-states-closing-bars-amid-virus-spike/
Texas and Florida: www.replaymag.com/https-www-replaymag-com-texas-and-florida-close-bars-again/
California, Pennsylvania and Idaho: www.replaymag.com/california-among-those-reclosing-bars-called-hotspots-for-virus/
Arizona: www.replaymag.com/arizona-bars-more-close-again-as-cases-rise/
