Photo courtesy of Gov. Whitmer’s office Following the announcement of the state’s first presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services are providing recommendations designed to help prevent the spread of the virus. Whitmer urges all Michiganders to take these recommendations seriously and to share them with their friends, families and coworkers.

HOUGHTON — Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued sweeping orders Monday banning dine-in customers and restaurants and closing all bars, movie theaters, gyms other sports facilities in order to curb the spread of Novel Coronavirus, or COVID-19. The orders come after the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) on Sunday reported 20 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 53. This includes the first child in Michigan, a boy in Oakland County, and the first in Ottawa County west of Grand Rapids.

Take-out and delivery will be available at many restaurants. The order comes one week after the governor’s executive order closing of all Michigan schools for three weeks. On Friday, March 13, the governor banned all gatherings of more than 250 people. The order will tentatively remain in effect through this month.

On Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that organizers cancel or postpone in-person events consisting of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks.

The CDC went on to state that travelers in the United States who attend large events and mass gathering can contribute to the spread of COVID-19. Large events and mass gatherings include, states the CDC, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies.

“These events can be planned not only by organizations and communities but also by individuals,” the CDC states.

A Monday AP report stated that the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, the trade group for more than 5,000 food-service and lodging establishments, backed Whitmer’s decision, the AP report stated.

“It is incumbent upon all Michiganders to remain united to prevent a catastrophic overrun of our limited healthcare resources,” president and CEO Justin Winslow is quoted as saying. “We recognize the governor’s decision is for the health and well-being of all Michigan citizens, however, the restaurant and lodging industries will be decimated in the coming weeks, severely impacting the 600,000 people they employ.”

Whitmer previously declared a state emergency, closed all schools, prohibited gatherings of more than 250 people and restricted visits to hospitals and other facilities. She said Sunday she saw “incredibly disturbing” photos on social media of patrons still cramming into establishments and not observing social distancing amid a global pandemic. She hinted then at moving to restrict operations at bars and restaurants.

For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The disease has infected over 169,000 people worldwide, and more than 6,500 people have died so far.

Winslow said that people can help by purchasing gift cards from their favorite restaurant, and by still ordering carryout or delivery.

Winslow urged Whitmer to move immediately to qualify Michigan for the U.S. Small Business Administration economic injury disaster loan program and to work quickly to infuse more liquidity for small businesses struggling to make payroll and keep their doors open.

Illinois, Ohio, Washington state and New York City are among the places to order bars to close and restaurants to stop dine-in service.

Also Monday, Upper Peninsula Power Company said it would suspend non-payment shutoffs for low-income and senior customers — two days after DTE Energy announced similar actions.