Whitmer extends restaurant, bar closure through April 13

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LANSING – Bars and restaurants must remain closed for two weeks longer than first ordered by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

On Saturday, Whitmer ordered bars, restaurants and other businesses remain closed through April 13 after her first executive order would have tentatively allowed restaurants and bars to reopen on March 30.

"COVID-19 has created an unprecedented challenge to our way of life as Michiganders," Whitmer said in a statement Saturday. "That's why we are making decisions based on science and facts to protect public health and keep people safe."

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"I know these changes will be hard, but they are temporary, and they are necessary to slow the spread of the virus and help save lives," she added.

Whitmer ordered restaurants and bars to suspend dine-in services on March 16. Her order did allow businesses to continuing offering carry-out services.

The first executive order shuttered restaurants, bars, gyms, casinos, theaters and other places the public would gather. She amended that list Saturday to include hair and nail salons, barber shops, tattoo parlors and other personal services businesses.

The governor aims to stem a larger outbreak of coronavirus, asking people to stay at home if they are sick and use social distancing to prevent potential exposure. 

More information on COVID-19 in Michigan is online at Michigan.gov/coronavirus.

Contact reporter Craig Lyons at 517-377-1047 or calyons@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @craigalyons.