(WSYM) — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she is hopeful that restaurants will be able to open for indoor dining starting Monday, Feb. 1, with safety measures.
Related: Read the latest epidemic order keeping indoor dining closed until at least Feb. 1
Speaking Wednesday at a press conference, Whitmer said they are working on a path to allow indoor dining.
"If numbers continue to head in the right direction, our hope is to resume indoor dining with strong safety measures on Feb. 1," Whitmer said.
Related: New Michigan epidemic order keeps restaurants closed until Feb. 1, allows non-contact sports
According to Whitmer, the safety measures would include mask requirements, capacity limits and a curfew.
She said they expect to make an announcement on that soon.
Whitmer and MDHHS Director Robert Gordon announced a new epidemic order on Wednesday that keeps indoor dining closed but does allow indoor group fitness classes and indoor non-contact sports. That order goes into effect on Jan. 16 and lasts until 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 31.
"Indoor dining brings risk because it involves taking off masks," Gordon said. "We’ll have more to say soon about steps to mitigate these risks as best as possible based on the pandemic, improving ventilation and reducing the number of people in restaurants."
