13 coronavirus cases linked to Playhouse strip club in Romulus
More than a dozen coronavirus cases have been linked to a strip club in Romulus, health officials said.
A total of 13 COVID-19 cases have been traced to the Playhouse Club in Romulus, according to the Wayne County Public Health Division. Of the 13 reported cases, 12 are either employees or patrons of the club. One case was an employee of a nearby Checkers restaurant.
Health officials ask anyone who visited or worked at the Playhouse Club between June 17 and July 1, or went to Checkers in Romulus between June 27 and July 4, to contact Wayne County Health Division at 734-727-7078. Anyone who visited either location in that window of time, symptomatic or not, is encouraged to call the health division to report the contact, get tested and self-quarantine at home.
The Playhouse Club is located at 13201 Middle Belt Road and the Checkers restaurant is located at 9247 Middle Belt Road.
“It is imperative all people who visited these two establishments during the exposure window call and cooperate with our communicable disease team so that we can understand the extent of the outbreak,” Carol Austerberry, Wayne County Public Health Officer, said in a news release.
More:
Michigan coronavirus cases: Tracking the pandemic
Station Casinos, Red Rock Resorts president dies in July 4 watercraft accident
Motorcyclist killed on Detroit freeway, pistol missing from crash scene
Gov. Whitmer's July 1 order closing down bars in lower Michigan includes strip clubs as well as traditional indoor bars and night clubs.
Coronavirus cases are beginning to climb again after a steady decline.
The state reported just 74 cases and a seven-day average of 152 June 15, the lowest reported number since the start of the pandemic. After staying below 500 new cases per day since the end of May, Michigan reported 543 new cases July 2 and currently has a seven-day average of 398 cases.
“We understand that during this holiday weekend it is difficult to refrain from gathering with friends and family,” Austerberry said. “But if you must, please follow some simple precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19. Stay six feet apart, avoid large gatherings, wash your hands with soap and water frequently, and stay home if you are not feeling well.”
Last week, Oakland County health officials reported that three people who were at a crowded sports bar in downtown Royal Oak on Friday, June 29, have tested positive for the coronavirus.
The three individuals did not know each other and the only commonality is they all were at the Fifth Avenue on that evening, the county health division's medical director told the Free Press.
One of the biggest known outbreaks traced back to a bar occurred in East Lansing. Coronavirus cases tied to Harper's Restaurant & Brew Pub had climbed to 158 in 15 Michigan counties as of last week, including 27 people who weren't at the bar but were infected by others who were.
Meredith Spelbring is a news intern with the Detroit Free Press. Reach her at mspelbring@freepress.com or on Twitter @mere0415.