(WXYZ) — After two months of being mostly shut down, Michigan is entering phase 4 of the MI Safe Start plan.
The governor announcing Monday a lift of the stay-at-home order, and the re-opening of bars and restaurants next week.
June 8 is when bars and restaurants are expected to open again. On top of restaurants, day camps for kids and pools are now allowed to open — with restrictions in place.
Starting Thursday, remaining retailers can come back online too. This is a huge step forward for Michigan, after multiple extensions of the stay-at-home order.
"The data has shown that we're ready to carefully move our state into the next phase," said Gov. Whitmer.
Welcome news for Michigan bars and restaurants that have been relying solely on take-out or have temporary shut their doors.
“Well it means everything as far as staying in business," said one metro Detroit restaurant owner.
Beginning June 8, indoor and outdoor seating at bars and restaurants is once again allowed, as long as tables are six feet a part.
“You must maintain social distancing in these places, and wearing your mask; and making sure that you continue to do your part," said Whitmer. "In restaurants it will be 50 percent or less of capacity, so long as maintaining that six feet."
Effective immediately, gatherings of 100 people or less outdoors is now allowed, with social distancing in place.
Drive-ins and outdoor fitness classes can also resume, but as Michigan enters phase for the MI Safe Start Plan,” hair salons, gyms, casinos, and indoor movie theaters will remain shuttered.
As for public pools, in addition to heightened cleaning measures, inspections will be done before they open for the season.
"This year it's also going to include safety check or plan in terms of COVID-19, like what your plans look like in terms of reducing capacity making sure people social distance appropriately and how are they going to handle that," said the spokesperson for the Washtenaw Health Department.
Things will obviously look and feel a little different under these new safety guidelines. Governor Whitmer says the plan is to move Michigan into phase 5 in the next two to three weeks. Something that could happen for the UP and the Greater Traverse City area as soon as later this week.
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