Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday announced what is probably welcome news to many people: increased capacity limits in restaurants and expanded opportunities to visit residential care facilities.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services updated two of its epidemic orders to allow for increased capacity limits at various venues, larger residential and nonresidential gatherings, and expanded visitation opportunities at residential care facilities.

“Restaurants and bars can operate at 50% capacity,” Whitmer said at a media conference. “That’s up from 25%. I’m also pleased that we can now allow visitation at nursing homes, too.

“We know that this virus has taken a disproportionate toll on our seniors, and the isolation and the time apart has been taxing on everyone with loved ones and long-term care facilities.”

Changes to the Gatherings and Mask Order will go into effect Friday and remain in effect through April 19.

Capacity changes include:

≤ Restaurants and bars are allowed to be at 50% capacity up to 100 people. Tables must be 6 feet apart with no more than six people per table. There is now an 11 p.m. curfew.

≤ Indoor non-residential gatherings where people interact across households are permitted up to 25 people, allowing public meetings and other small indoor gatherings to resume.

≤ Outdoor non-residential gatherings where people interact across households are permitted up to 300, allowing larger outdoor events to resume.

≤ Indoor entertainment venues are allowed to be at 50% capacity, up to 300 people.

≤ Exercise facilities are allowed to be at 30% capacity with restrictions on distancing and mask requirements.

≤ Retail is allowed to be at 50% capacity.

≤ Casinos are allowed to be at 30% capacity.

≤ Indoor stadiums and arenas are allowed to have 375 people if seating capacity is under 10,000, and 750 if seating capacity is over 10,000.

≤ Outdoor entertainment and recreational facilities may host up to 1,000 patrons.

Indoor residential gatherings are now limited to 15 people from three households, while outdoor residential gatherings can include up to 50 people.

The epidemic order continues to temporarily pause other venues and activities where participants have close physical contacts and are not consistently masked, such as water parks.

“All of these re-engagements will enable Michiganders to enjoy more of life’s simplest pleasures that have been disrupted over the past year — going out for a meal with your family, date night to go see the new and cheesy rom-com (movie), a coffee with your grandma,” Whitmer said. “These are the things that make our lives full, and I know how eager we all are to get back to enjoying our days with loved ones.”

We, like many others, are glad to see that we have made enough progress for some of these places to begin loosening restrictions. However, we want to advise all Michiganders to be smart and continue to do their part to curb this virus. If we act like it’s business as usual and put our guard down, then we will see our state’s numbers rise just as quickly as they have fallen.