UPDATE: MSU moves to carry-out only following Gov. Whitmer's executive order

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed an executive order to temporarily close theaters, bars, and casinos, limiting restaurants to carry-out and delivery orders.

The governor's office said the order applies to restaurants, cafes, coffee houses, bars, taverns, brewpubs, distilleries, clubs, movie theaters, indoor and outdoor performance venues, gymnasiums, fitness centers, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities, exercise studios, spas, and casinos.

In compliance with the order, MSU dining halls will move to carry-out only beginning at 3 p.m., according to MSU spokesperson Dan Olsen.

Olsen sent the following statement to News 10:

"While the governor’s recent executive order does impact our dining halls, we are making sure those who remain on campus and those in our community who frequent our dining halls have access to healthy meals. To that end, our dining halls are modifying their operations to provide take-out options for students, faculty, staff and guests. More information on those modifications will be available soon at

Gov. Whitmer's office said the order will not restrict a place of business from offering food and beverage using delivering service, window service, walk-up service, drive-through service, or drive-up service.

Gov. Whitmer's office said the order does not apply to these locations: office buildings, grocery stores, markets, food pantries, pharmacies, drug stores, and providers of medical equipment and supplies, health care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities, and juvenile justice facilities, warehouse and distribution centers, and industrial and manufacturing facilities.

The governor's office said the restrictions will be in place until Monday, March 30 at 11:59 p.m.

“This disease is a challenge unlike any we’ve experienced in our lifetimes,” said Governor Whitmer. “Fighting it will cause significant but temporary changes to our daily lives. By practicing social distancing and taking aggressive action now, the state is working to mitigate the spread of coronavirus so we reduce the risk that our health care system becomes overwhelmed. This is about saving lives. Michiganders are tough and we are going to get through this, but it will require everyone doing their part. That means making smart choices and not putting yourself or others at risk by going out in public unless it is absolutely necessary.”

To view the full executive order, click

The order comes after the Ingham County Health Department announced they would require all food service establishments to reduce their legal occupancy load by 50%.

That mandate would have gone into effect at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 16, and would have lasted until April 5 at 5 p.m.

The order also comes after the governor signed an executive order banning events that would host more than 250 people.

There is no word right now on how long the executive order's closure will last.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released a statement on the order:

“My thoughts today are with the workers and businesses in our food and hospitality industries. It is heartbreaking that an industry built on service to others must be shut down to help protect and keep safe the families they call their customers and friends. In an effort to help them through this difficult and unexpected shutdown, I am asking our partners in the state and federal legislature to look for ways to help alleviate the financial impact of this shutdown. The Governor’s order was necessary and appropriate in light of the extraordinary circumstances in which we find ourselves and we will be working with our state, county and local law enforcement partners to enforce the order. I am proud of the tens of thousands of businesses and hundreds of thousands of workers who recognize the gravity of this situation and are responding quickly and without hesitation. We owe them our gratitude and support.”

Ohio and Illinois have made similar moves to curb the spread of the virus.

In addition, as of Monday, March 16, all Michigan K-12 schools are closed through Sunday, April 5.

The state of Michigan has set up a coronavirus hotline, 1-888-535-6136, for those who have questions about the virus. The hotline is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.