Michigan Gov. Whitmer Requires Restaurants to Obtain Customers’ Names and Contact Info

Michigan Gov. Whitmer Requires Restaurants to Obtain Customers’ Names and Contact Info

Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration told restaurants to collect a customer’s information due to surging cases of COVID-19.

Restaurant owners are not thrilled.

From The Detroit News:

For bars, restaurants and social events outside private homes, indoor party sizes at a single table will be restricted to six people. Bars and restaurants will also be required to take names and contact information from customers to support contact tracing if necessary, a press release said. Contact tracing is the act of tracking individuals who’ve been near individuals who later test positive for COVID-19.

The new order reads: “All dine-in food service establishments must maintain accurate records of the names and phone numbers of patrons who purchase food for consumption on the premises, and the date and time of entry.”

The orders require restaurants, along with schools and other businesses, to provide names and phone numbers of individuals with possible COVID-19 exposure to local health officials “to aid in contact tracing and case investigation efforts.”

Whitmer’s administration claims 12 outbreaks in the state are “associated with bars and restaurants.”

I wonder if the ACLU will go after Whitmer. It criticized Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s mandate to collect customers’ information because it violates a person’s right “to privacy and association.”

Where does it stop? Aren’t we on Day 5670 of the 15-day slowdown?

The food and drink industry suffered a lot during the lockdown across the nation. Owners saw more business as states lifted restrictions, but the new rules will likely cause more disruptions.

Jason Gless, Wise Men Distillery’s marketing manager, said the new rules make it “very difficult right now.” The distillery had to make some massive changes, which affect the bartenders:

After the new guidelines were announced, Wise Men Distillery made some changes to their tasting room practices. Extremely limited seating is available for in-person cocktail service, they switched to disposable cups, they ask no more than six people per group, no one under 21 years of age is admitted, and groups are not allowed to mingle with other groups. They will also be taking information for contact tracing once it goes into effect Monday.

Tom Borisch, one of the owners of Wise Men Distillery, said the biggest challenge with the most recent round of restrictions is the capacity limits.

“This is such a small tasting room, we’re down to 14 seats,” said Borisch, “It’s hard for our bartenders to make any money.”

Borisch described the situation as “a never-ending fight, like it’s never going to stop.” He believes his business will survive, but so many other places will not come back.

“Those are people’s livelihoods,” Borisch stressed.

Republican State Reps. Jason Sheppard (Temperance) and Joseph Bellino (Monroe), along with Republican State Sen. Dale Zorn (Ida), all from Monroe County, lashed out at Whitmer.

They are confused because a month ago, the Michigan Supreme Court found that Whitmer did not have the authority to shutdown the state over COVID-19.

The Court said “rules and regulations imposed by the state should be done so by the Legislature in conjunction with her office.”

Whitmer’s administration is not following the ruling:

According to Sheppard, that collaboration isn’t taking place. He said the court was clear in its instruction to include legislators in crafting future state responses to the ongoing pandemic.

“Instead of following the court’s ruling, (Whitmer) continues to exclude us and instead has invited one of her departments to the table,” he said.

Bellino says that while the order may be signed by Gordon, it’s evident it’s at the behest of Whitmer.

“We see these are (MDHHS) orders, but the governor appoints the (department’s) director,” Bellino said. ”(Whitmer) is the puppet master on these orders.”

Zorn argues there has been a continuous lack of effort on Whitmer’s part to work with the officials elected to represent the people of Michigan.

″(Whitmer) has continually refused to share the scientific data her administration is using to issue these orders,” Zorn said. “This is a broken process, and I believe it goes against the spirit and intent of the previous (Michigan) Supreme Court ruling that deemed her previous executive orders unconstitutional.”

The politicians are aligned with the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association.

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