Michigan restaurants to start collecting customer's information

BUCHANAN, Mi.—Starting today, restaurants and bars in Michigan will have to follow new regulations as COVID-19 cases increase in the state.

 The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced last Thursday that restaurants and bars are now required to take down information on customers who dine-in. The new rule is put in place to help with contact tracing in the event of an outbreak. 

 Restaurants must record names, phone number, and date and time of the visit of every customer who dines in. 

 The co-owners of Cameron’s in Buchanan and the owner of the Strand in Dowagiac said although, they don't agree with the new regulation, they are going to follow through with it. 

 “We’re trying to figure out how to keep our businesses alive and provide good service to our customers who come in here. So, for them to put another rule out there we have to comply with, we’re not happy about it, but we’re going to comply with it and do the best we can to get our customers to comply with it as well,” Donna Monell, the co-owner of Cameron’s Restaurant. 

 Matthew Weil, the owner of The Strand in Dowagiac said they’re going to get the customer information when they come through the door. 

 “I understand that they are trying to do the best that they can for saving people’s lives and keeping people safe I guess, I just, I think it’s absurd,” Weil said.

The new order is also mandating that restaurants seat no more than six people per table. Restaurant owners who spoke with ABC57 said they plan on keeping customer's information safe and private. It will only be given to government health officials if asked. 

 
If the order is violated, restaurants can face a misdemeanor offense and be fined up to $1,000 or six months in jail.