Nothing So Permanent As A Temporary Government Ordered Closure

As many might have guessed, Governor Half-Whit has decided to destroy the restaurant industry in this state by extending the three-week "temporary" shut down set to expire tomorrow to December 20.

The Detroit News: Michigan Gov. Whitmer extends COVID-19 pause through Dec. 20

So, organized sports, schools, restaurants and other industries will remain shuttered.

Restaurants were being devastated by the 3-week temporary closure just as they were beginning to recover from the prior temporary "15 days to slow the spread closure" that lasted six months.

Again, all of 4% of outbreaks were reported in restaurants when they were open - which is a pretty small number.  But Gov Half-Whit must appear that she is doing something, and this is something regardless of how many people it puts out of work and livelihoods it destroys.

One might note that since the three-week shut down of the restaurants showed no appreciable effect on the virus' spread, why extend it?

Lots of restaurants here will simply not be able to recover from this.  With winter weather, outdoor dining has sure lost its appeal, and carry-out isn't going to cut it.

I'll note the figures being used to support this closure are rather statistically suspect at best:

Michigan reported 6,004 new coronavirus cases and 193 deaths Saturday.

 But the article immediately goes on to state:

Of the 193 deaths reported Saturday, 145 were identified in a regular records review to see if a COVID-19 infection contributed to previous death. 

So only 48 of these deaths were not a a result of a look-back and records review to see if the virus contributed (note contributed, not the main cause).  48 may be a lot, but it sure doesn't sell a continued shut down like 193 does now does it?