Michigan doctors are calling on restaurants to help stop the spread of COVID-19 after a letter circulated last week urging restaurants to defy state health orders.
A Detroit-area restaurant circulated a letter last week calling on owners to stand together in defying state health orders.
The state has suspended some liquor licenses and issued penalties to at least six bars and restaurants that openly defied health orders.
Dr. Ijeoma Nnodim Opara is a Michigan doctor and member of the Committee to Protect Medicare. She’s calling on restaurants to help healthcare workers stop the spread of COVID-19.
“It is reckless to really put Michiganders at risk given the numbers we’re dealing with by providing the opportunity or environment for folks to be exposed to such an unpredictable and infectious disease as COVID-19,” Opara said.
According to Dr. Opara, 8 out of 10 COVID infections come from indoor locations such as restaurants, bars, or gyms.
“In order to build back better our economy we have to be alive. We have to be healthy,” she said. “Sick people and dead people don’t go to the restaurant and sick people and dead people don’t eat at the restaurant.”
Dr. Opara said she understands restaurants want to protect their livelihoods, but people’s lives are on the line.
“You can get your money back. You can get resources back,” she said. “But you can’t get your loved one back, you can’t get life back. You can’t.”
State officials say at this time no additional liquor licenses have been revoked.