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Whitmer, MDHHS announce restaurants can open at 25% capacity on Feb. 1

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Starting Feb. 1, Michigan restaurants and bars can reopen for indoor dining at 25% capacity — with a curfew — and concessions can resume at casinos, movie theaters and stadiums, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday.

The state health department’s coronavirus restrictions were revised again amid a continued drop in cases and hospitalizations. They will be effective for three weeks, through Feb. 21.

The Democratic governor had announced last week that restaurants would likely be able to serve dine-in customers beginning Feb. 1 after a two-and-a-half month ban.

“The pause has worked,” she said.

Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon’s order limits capacity to 25% — lower than the 50% ceiling that was in effect from June to November — with a maximum of 100 people. Bars and restaurants must close by 10 p.m. and collect customers’ contact information for tracing purposes.

Food establishments can voluntarily take part in a new state ventilation-inspection program, through which they can be certified as optimizing airflow. Whitmer has proposed funding for restaurants that participate.

The order also loosens gathering restrictions so two families can go to the movies or bowl together; raises the capacity cutoff at stadiums with more than 10,000 seats to 500, from 250; and authorizes personal-care services where a mask must be removed such as facials.

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