Michigan the latest state to order more coronavirus restrictions
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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmerat the Detroit- Hamtramck assembly plant in Detroit in January. Photo: Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed an executive order closing indoor service at bars in south and central parts of the state "to protect the progress Michigan has made against COVID-19," she said in a statement Wednesday.
Why it matters: It's the latest state to readjust or pause reopening plans as COVID-19 cases soar across the U.S. Daily coronavirus case numbers surpassed 50,000 for the first time on Wednesday.
- Leading health officials are sounding the alarm at the spikes after several states' economies were quick to reopen, though Vice President Mike Pence, head of the White House coronavirus task force disputes this was a factor.
Zoom in: Those in the northern Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula are excluded from the Whitmer's latest order. She said she signed bills allowing cocktails-to-go at bars and restaurants "to help these businesses serve more Michiganders during this time."
The big picture: Other states to announce they're halting reopening plans include:
- Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) said on June 29 all bars, clubs, movie theaters, waterparks and gyms must close for 30 days.
- In Arkansas, almost two weeks on from allowing for two-thirds capacity in restaurants and other businesses to reopen, Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) said on June 25 the state had paused plans to further restart the economy, per AP.
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on July 1 ordered 19 California counties to close bars and mandated that indoor service for restaurants, movie theaters, museums and zoos cease immediately.
- On June 28, Newsom ordered seven counties including Los Angeles County to shut bars, per the Los Angeles Times.
- State beach parking lots will be closed on the Fourth of July weekend, KFMB-TV notes.
- Delaware Gov. John Carney (D) on June 30 ordered the closure of bars at popular beach spots, including in Rehoboth and Dewey, effective at 8am on July 1.
- Florida authorities ordered bars to stop serving alcohol on June 26, effective immediately. But Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said on June 30 he would not state would not reinstate restrictions or close businesses to mitigate the COVID-19 spread.
- Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) said on June 25 the state would stay in phase four of its reopening plan " for at least another couple of weeks" after cases spiked, per KBSX.
- In Indiana, bars, restaurants and stores were due to operate at "full capacity" on July 4, but these plans have been paused until at least July 17, according to the Indy Star.
- Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) on June 25 formally extended for 28 days Phase Two of reopening that allows businesses including restaurants, bars, malls and museums to operate at 50% capacity.
- Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) on June 22 delayed the reopening of indoor service at bars, per Bangor Daily News.
- In New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on July 1 that New York City would not resume indoor dining at restaurants as planned on July 6.
- New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) announced on June 29 that the state would indefinitely postpone indoor dining — originally set to resume on July 1.
- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued an executive order for all bars to close and restaurants to reduce their capacity from 75% to 50% on June 26.
- Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said in a statement on June 30 that bars would not reopen as planned on July 1.
Go deeper: America's reopening grinds to a halt
Editor's note: This article has been updated with details of more states' announcements and it's been corrected to reflect that Edwards is a Democrat.
