Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order Friday reopening movie theaters, concert venues, and other entertainment businesses that have been closed since March due to the pandemic.
The businesses may reopen on Oct. 9, with an indoor limit of 20 people per 1,000 square feet or 20 percent of fixed seating capacity. A maximum of 500 people will be in place for the state’s largest venues. Face covering use will also be required for the indoor venues.
Other than theaters and concert venues, other businesses able to reopen include arcades, bowling centers, indoor dance areas, roller rinks, and more.
“Michigan took some of the most aggressive action against COVID-19 in the country, and as a result, the health of our families and our economy are faring better than our neighbors in other states,” Whitmer said in a statement. “As a result, we are now able to reopen movie theaters and performance venues with strict safety measures in place.”
Among Grand Rapids theaters and venues able to earn indoor ticket revenue again are Wealthy Theatre, The Pyramid Scheme, The Intersection, Celebration Cinema’s four area locations, and others. These businesses had been hard hit by the pandemic-related shutdowns, with several of them fighting for federal aid to avoid permanent closure.
Despite the ability of area theaters and venues to reopen, the reduced capacity limits and lack of city-to-city touring may prevent them from any quick or significant rebound, as explored by Local Spins.
Whitmer’s order also adjusts capacity restrictions for outdoor gatherings and events, with the new limit being 30 people per square feet or 30 percent of fixed seating capacity. A maximum of 1,000 people will be in place.
“We are not out of the woods yet, and we will continue to monitor the effects of these incremental changes,” the governor continued. “Right now, the federal government and all 50 states have been under some form of state of emergency. We must stay the course and continue fighting this virus on behalf of our families, frontline workers, and our small businesses.”
In addition to the order reopening indoor theaters and venues, Whitmer also issued an order requiring face covering use in classrooms for students in kindergarten through grade five. This order applies to all Michigan regions in the MI Safe Start Plan, except the Traverse City and Upper Peninsula regions.
More details about the orders are available on the Executive Orders page on Whitmer’s official website.
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