The restaurant industry has taken a hit since the pandemic began in the U.S. last March. | Stock Photo
The restaurant industry has taken a hit since the pandemic began in the U.S. last March. | Stock Photo
The latest state mandate on COVID-19 may lead to business closures and lost jobs, according to a group that represents Michigan's hospitality industry.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' (MDHHS) recent emergency order announcement extended an existing order that mandated contact tracing for bars and restaurants.
Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (MRLA) President and CEO Justin Winslow said, according to Michigan Capitol Confidential, that the recent state order for restaurants to gather the names and contact details of all patrons for future contact tracing “is more likely to result in job loss, foreclosure and fewer restaurants than it will prevent transmission.”
The data gathered by MDHHS links dine-in establishments to only three -- or 2% -- of the 144 outbreaks reported across the state, according to Winslow.
The restaurant industry employs thousands of workers and serves millions of individuals every day, he said. Restaurants strive to provide a place where people can safely come together, eat a meal and socialize. Winslow believes that providing a safer environment is better than implementing alternatives that are less sanitized, less regulated and may not prevent transmission.
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