Whitmer admin tightens gathering limits after virus spreads
David Eggert | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 1 month AGO
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration on Thursday tightened restrictions on indoor gatherings and shifted the Traverse City region backward in Michigan's reopening plan, saying coronavirus hospitalizations have doubled in three weeks and the statewide death rate has risen for five straight weeks.
The state Department of Health and Human Services revised and extended mask and other rules.
Effective immediately, indoor venues without fixed seating must limit gatherings such as weddings, parties and banquets to no more than 50 people — down from a maximum of 500. Restaurants, bars and other venues must seat no more than six people at a table. All dine-in establishments must keep customers' names and phone numbers for contact-tracing purposes, starting Monday.
The state said indoor settings are as much as 20 times more likely to drive COVID-19 outbreaks than outdoor settings. It also recommended that people keep their voices down at social events, warning that shouting or cheering can increase the virus in the air by up to 30 times.
“Avoid the indoor get-togethers where we have seen COVID explode,” said Robert Gordon, director of the health department.
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