(Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette) The arcade space at the Mineshaft is seen Friday night after an event held in protest of the state’s COVID-19 restrictions. The three-week pause, which went into effect Wednesday, prohibits bars and restaurants from indoor dining and also forbids the operation of places such as bowling alleys and arcades.

HOUGHTON — An estimated 200 people attended a party at the Mine Shaft & Rock House Grille Friday held to protest the state’s COVID-19 restrictions, including the three-week pause that prohibited the business from being open to the public.

The event included food and the use of the bowling alley, game room and other activities for $10 per person, according to messages sent by organizers.

“It’s about supporting our local businesses, because we are going to die of starvation and communism if we don’t stay open,” said Naomi Leukuma, an organizer of the protest.

The order by the Michigan Department Health and Human Services went into effect Wednesday and continues until Dec. 8. Under the order, businesses such as bowling alleys and arcades must stay closed, and restaurants must move to takeout only.

Owner Andrew Moyle estimated about 200 people had come during the three-hour event, with as many as 100 in the building at any time.

Moyle said he was participating on behalf of 35 employees whose jobs he said have been jeopardized by the shutdown and the uncertainty surrounding businesses.

“Everybody keeps shutting their doors, opening and shutting down, opening and shutting down,” he said. “We won’t have any left.”

Moyle said he felt the orders placed unfair restrictions on restaurants compared to places such as supermarkets.

“You can have 5,000 people one parking lot away … the most we’ve ever had in here was 150 people,” he said.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other Midwestern governors have asked President Trump and Congress to approve COVID relief funding. State Sen. Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and House Speaker Lee Chatfield also traveled to speak to Trump this week for what they described as a talk about COVID aid.

Moyle said the staff complies with the regulations in every other respect, such as wearing masks, social distancing and restricting seating to every other table.

Kate Beer, health officer for the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department, said Sunday the department is working with law enforcement and licensing agencies to resolve issues posed by Friday’s gathering or other businesses staying open in violation of the order. There is no timetable for a decision, Beer said.

In an announcement of the restrictions last week, MDHHS Director Robert Gordon said they were aimed at reducing spread in indoor environments, which has been the largest driver of the pandemic.

Beer reminded people that they could still be carrying and transmitting the virus even if they feel fine.

“It may not affect someone personally, but it’s the next person that gets it that could have severe consequences healthwise,” she said.

Asked how she would respond to people criticizing the decision to hold a large gathering during the pandemic and against state orders, Leukuma said “Communism is the pandemic, COVID is the means of spreading it.” Leukuma said she had spoken with emigrants from several Communist countries who also joined her at a large protest in support of Trump in Washington, D.C. last week.

Leukuma said she and some residents had also held a protest outside the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department offices on Tuesday. Beer had no comment Sunday, other than to say it was a peaceful protest.

Leukuma acknowledged the reality of COVID, saying she knows people who have contracted it. However, she said the death rates from the virus were not high enough to merit the shutdowns.

Mortality rates for COVID have dropped from the start of the pandemic as treatments have improved. However, it is still causing deaths, which have been on the rise in recent weeks as colder weather has driven people indoors.

As of Saturday, 8,478 people have died from COVID in Michigan, which on the same day recorded its 300,000th COVID case. In the week of Nov. 1-7, there were 298 deaths in Michigan, up 146 from the week before. The state death rate is 5.2 per million people.