No decision yet on shutdown extension
While the cases of COVID-19 appear to be leveling off in Michigan, it remains uncertain whether the threeweek pause that ends on Dec. 8 will be extended.
Indoor dining at restaurants, high school sports and movie theaters were among those that were shut down for three weeks by Robert Gordon, the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. It was effective Nov. 18.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who influences his decisions, held her second press conference in three days on Thursday.
“The early numbers look like we’re seeing a little bit of a leveling that’s a good thing. We were on this very dramatic upward trajectory and the leveling is thinking about how many beds we’re not taking because we can level that curve. Ultimately we need to bring it down,’’ Whitmer said.
She said they are watching data every single day to make decisions with the best information available.
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive of the MDHHS, said there has been a slight decline in cases over the past 13 days, but cases remain high. She said test positivity rate in the state ranges from 8.5 percent in the Upper Peninsula to 15 percent in Kalamazoo. Khaldun said currently 81 percent of the ICU hospital beds in Michigan are full. That includes patients with COVID-19 and others.
“You know every health system in the state has seen growth in their hospitalizations from where we were a month ago and that’s very concerning for everyone in the community,’’ Whitmer said. “As we get a few more days of information under our belts we’ll be in a much stronger position to assess if there are some things that are safer to do. But if we have to make some extensions of the current pause (we will) and that is sadly possible because of the sheer volume of COVID.’’
Restaurants have been hard hit since the start of the pandemic in March. According to the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, 2,000 restaurants have closed permanently since March. The group says that 4.3 percent of COVID-19 outbreaks in the state came from restaurants.
Restaurants in the state were closed for indoor dining from March 16 to June 7. When they reopened it was at 50-percent capacity which remained until indoor dining was banned again on Nov. 18.
December is typically one of the busiest times for restaurants who are allowed to offer takeout service and outdoor dining.
“We are continuing to pursue help for businesses who are a part of this pause because of the nature of them, because indoor multiple households (are involved), activities that require taking a mask off like eating,’’ Whitmer said. “It is my hope that we get the federal stimulus. There are also efforts being done here in Lansing in hopes we can get $100 million for these businesses and unemployed workers as well as build up our apparatus to distribute vaccines.’’
The governor encourages helping restaurants by ordering takeout and buying gift certificates.
“We want to keep them afloat while we know that congregating in enclosed spaces with multiple households is inherently dangerous we’re going to do everything we can to help them get through these tough times,’’ Whitmer said.
The governor said the bottom line is that everyone has to take the pandemic seriously and do their part by wearing masks, social distancing, washing hands and avoiding indoor gatherings.