MI Eateries Open To Dine-In Service Monday: What It'll Look Like

Joey Oliver
·2 min read

MICHIGAN — Bars and restaurants are among Michigan industries with eased restrictions beginning Monday, but things will not look they way they used to when Michiganders venture out to their favorite diner.

Michigan, which on Wednesday reported 304 new cases of the coronavirus and 17 attributed deaths, has reported a total of 58,035 cases and 5,570 deaths. However, the daily updates of new cases and deaths has been trending downward, prompting state officials to relax some of its safety measures.

On Monday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced she was lifting the state's stay-home order, but Michigan eateries will be subject to many guidelines still, such as required social distancing and other measures. Here is what that might look like.

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Your Favorite Restaurant Might Not Be Open

According to the executive order issued Monday by Whitmer, which officially lifted the state's stay-home order beginning Monday, bars and restaurants will have the state's approval to reopen with strict guidelines, but that doesn't mean they automatically will do so.

Local municipalities will still have the authority to make local orders prohibiting the reopening of such businesses if they deem it necessary. This is the case for all eateries — restaurants, food courts, cafes, coffeehouses, bars, taverns, brew pubs, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, tasting rooms, special licensees, clubs and the like.

Dine-In Service Will Come With Guidelines

Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Michiganders will be able to dine-in at eateries for the first time in months. But that opportunity still comes with restrictions.

Whitmer's executive order requires eateries to follow the capacity constraints and workplace standards set forth by her administration. That includes limiting customer capacity to 50 percent of normal seating. It also requires social distancing of at least 6 feet between people inside the restaurant, so expect to see tables spread out a little farther, or the use of every other table and physical guides, such as tape on the floor, to mark where people should stand.

Waiting areas will be closed to customers, meaning if there is a wait to dine-in, customers will likely be asked to wait in their vehicles.

Self-serve food and drink options, such as buffets, salad bars and drink stations, will also still be closed.

Shared items, such as menus and condiments, will also be limited to avoid risk of contamination and the spread of germs.

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This article originally appeared on the Detroit Patch