Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is under pressure to halt in-store sales of
lottery tickets over concerns that lines for them could spread the
coronavirus.Get more news about
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State Rep. Mari Manoogian, D-Birmingham, and the Chaldean Chamber of
Commerce, which represents many store owners, are calling on the
Michigan Lottery to halt the sales because it’s difficult for owners to
enforce social distancing guidelines.
“That is something we’re taking a very serious look at,” Whitmer said during a televised town hall forum on Thursday.
“It is important though that every single business owner who is
selling food or essential needs is taking the appropriate steps to
ensure that the people who are coming into their stores are standing 6
feet apart.”The possibility comes as coronavirus cases in Michigan have
nearly tripled in seven days to 12,744, and officials are increasingly
frustrated that not enough people are doing their part to slow the
spread of the outbreak.
Manoogian told Bridge store owners have told her about “folks …
leaving their homes not to purchase essential goods but specifically go
out and purchase lottery tickets.”
On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday the state Lottery Bureau sent
notices to the state’s 10,500 retailers with lottery terminals saying
they “must immediately cease lottery sales… if you are unable to
implement social-distancing measures and follow all requirements of the
Stay Home, Stay Safe order.”
Since March 16 — when Whitmer issued the executive order to
temporarily close theaters, bars, casinos and dine-in restaurants — 182
retailers have requested the state deactivate their lottery terminals,
said Michigan Lottery spokesperson Jeff Holyfield.
More than 60 percent of those requests came on Thursday and Friday,
while 30 retailers will be deactivating their terminals on Monday.
“People should not leave their homes just to buy lottery tickets,”
Holyfield said. If businesses allow customers to violate social
distancing rules, they may lose their right to sell tickets and face
other disciplinary measures, he added.
The Wall