Michigan Office of the Governor via AP In a photo provided by the Michigan Office of the Governor, Craig Carmoney, superintendent of the year and Superintendent of Meridian Public Schools in Midland County addresses the state during a speech in Lansing, Mich., Wednesday, Feb. 24.

HOUGHTON — As vaccinations rise and COVID-19 cases plateau, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced easing of COVID-19 restrictions in a variety of areas Tuesday, including allowing indoor nursing home visits and expanding capacity at bars and restaurants to 50%

The nursing home order takes effect immediately, while others go into effect Friday.

“I’m excited to see that we’re making progress for the physical and emotional well-being of our residents and our staff alike,” said Kim Salmi, administrator at Canal View – Houghton County. “So my hope is that the community at large can continue to adhere to recommendations in order to keep us moving in that positive direction. Just because we’re starting to see light at the end of the tunnel doesn’t mean it’s over, but we’re definitely making progress towards normalcy.”

Cases have plateaued at 91 cases per million statewide, close to where the state was in October, said Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive for Michigan. Also similar to October rate is the statewide positivity rate of 3.5%. The U.P. is below both rates at 56.4 cases per million at 1.5% positivity.

There have been 422 cases of the more contagious B.1.1.7 variant statewide, most of which have been traced to one correctional facility, Khaldun said.

“This pandemic is not over, and we must all continue to remain vigilant,” she said. “But the good news is, we have the tools that we need to fight this epidemic back.”

Long-term care facilities will allow two visitors per resident. Families will be able to visit relatives in nursing homes after those 13 and older receive a negative COVID-19 test — either a rapid antigen test or by showing proof of a negative test conducted within the past 72 hours.

“I have enough rapid tests on site that we can test anyone who needs a negative COVID test,” Salmi said.

Visitation will be allowed as long as the facility has not had a positive COVID-19 test in the past 14 days.

People who want to see their loved ones must pre-schedule a visit by calling activities director Alisha Davis at 482-5050.

Canal View plans to reopen communal dining on March 15 — two weeks after the final vaccinations for its residents, Salmi said.

As of Monday, 53% of the population over 64 in the five-county area had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department announced Monday.

Over 45% of people 65 and over have gotten the vaccine statewide, Khaldun said. Michigan will also get an additional 82,500 doses from a shipment of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week.

Capacity for bars and restaurants was also doubled to 50% starting Friday for up to 100 people. Distancing is still in place, and more than six people can be at a table. Closing time has also been moved an hour to 11 p.m.

At Joey’s Seafood & Grill in Houghton, the change will probably mean enlarging three or four tables, said manager Scott Lindgren.

“We couldn’t increase our capacity much more while keeping social distancing,” he said.

Snowmobiles and winter tourism have kept business consistent, Lindgren said. This February was one of the busiest the restaurant has seen, despite a snowstorm depressing business the week of Winter Carnival.

“The takeout is where it’s increased,” he said. “Before we did maybe 5-10% on any given date. There’s days now that we do 35% of our orders in takeout. So while we lost the seating indoors, we have that much more food going out every day.”

Limits were lifted on some other businesses and gatherings. Indoor non-residential gatherings can have up to 25 people; for outdoors, 300. Indoor residential gatherings can now include 15 people from three households; outdoors is up to 50.

Indoor entertainment venues can open at 50% capacity, up to 300 people. Retail businesses can also move up to 50%. Outdoor entertainment venues are allowed up to 1,000 people.

Exercise facilities and casinos can be at 30%. Indoor stadiums and arenas can have crowds of 375 if capacity is under 10,000; larger ones can have 750.