Calling them “heroes who make sacrifices to save other people’s lives,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel today praised the more than 40,000 Michigan food service establishments who have worked to abide by state law and adapt to the significant changes required in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as cases in the state have surged.
Nessel commented today, “Restaurants across Michigan have stepped up to protect their customers and adapt to new requirements in light of the pandemic, and they should be commended,” adding, “As customers, we expect to frequent restaurants that abide by the law and work to ensure we do not get sick from their establishment. Whether a person is ordering take-out or dining in, they have a reasonable expectation to not become ill from that experience.”
In contrast to that, Nessel says that in early March, the Allegan County Health Department announced that a customer of Marlena’s Bistro and Pizzeria tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after dining at the location and during a period of time when the customer would have been most contagious. Nessel says that announcement was one more development in an ongoing case where the restaurant owner has repeatedly defied the Allegan County Health Department, the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, and the courts since November of 2020.
Nessel notes that restaurant patrons throughout Michigan benefit from the work of the state’s local health departments in keeping them safe from potential public health threats that may range from foodborne illnesses like norovirus, Salmonella or Hepatitis A, and more. In addition to typical public health concerns, local health departments also work to protect patrons from exposure to COVID-19. That is especially significant with COVID-19 cases in Michigan on the rise. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Michigan currently has the highest COVID-19 cases per capita in the country.
Nessel says today, “Heroes are those who make sacrifices to save other people’s lives, not risk them,” and concludes, “The individuals working hard to abide by state law in order to protect their employees and patrons are true heroes of the pandemic.”
