More than 85 people are infected with coronavirus after outbreak at Michigan college bar

More than 85 people are infected with coronavirus after outbreak at Michigan college bar that saw lines out the door after it reopened at the start of June

  • At least 85 people have been infected with COVID-19 in East Lansing, Michigan 
  • Around 80 of those infected had visited Harper’s Restaurant and Brewpub
  • The bar had been open since June 8 and despite the bar attempting to introduce social distancing, there were lines out the door and into the street 
  • The bar has now been forced to temporarily close once again as the owners attempt to design a system to eliminate lines and install air purifiers indoors 

More than 85 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Michigan after an outbreak at a college bar.

The Ingham County Health Department has linked all of the cases to Harper’s Restaurant and Brew Pub in Lansing, close to Michigan State University’s campus.

Doctors have found that 80 of those infected had been to the bar while the others were from coming into contact with those who had been exposed to customers who had visited with 23 testing as asymptomatic. 

Around 80 of those infected had visited Harper’s Restaurant and Brewpub when it reopened earlier this month

Video shot from outside the bar shows there were lines out the door and no social distancing

Video shot from outside the bar shows there were lines out the door and no social distancing

Video shot from outside the bar shows there were lines out the door and no social distancing

Despite there being seating outdoors, there was still extremely long lines for orders

Despite there being seating outdoors, there was still extremely long lines for orders

Patrons who visited the bar any time between June 12 and June 22 has been told to self-quarantine for 14 days.  

The reopened earlier in June and was completely packed with lines stretching out the door according to the Detroit Free Press.

‘I’m just so frustrated,’ said one mother, whose 19-year-old daughter has tested positive for COVID-19. ‘I’m so sad. We stayed home as ordered and then let our guard down — and now this.

‘It’s everywhere — and I get that. And perhaps she shouldn’t have gone to a bonfire,’ the mother said. ‘So now we wait for our test results and pray. … Praying is all we have.’ 

The bar has now been forced to temporarily close once again as the owners attempt to design a system to eliminate lines

The bar has now been forced to temporarily close once again as the owners attempt to design a system to eliminate lines

The restaurants and bar have now been forced to close while they work out a safer option

The restaurants and bar have now been forced to close while they work out a safer option

In a Facebook statement the bar acknowledged that it had failed when it came to enforcing social distancing. 

‘We have attempted to instruct customers waiting in line to wear face coverings and practice social distancing through signage on the public sidewalk and with a banner on our railing,’ the bar in an online posting. 

‘Our oversight of the line on our stairs has been successful, but trying to get customers to follow our recommendations on the public sidewalk has been challenging.’

The owners also say the bar will install air purifiers indoors to help create a safer atmosphere

The owners also say the bar will install air purifiers indoors to help create a safer atmosphere

The bar has now been forced to close while it comes up with a strategy whereby the venue can reopen while eliminating lines completely. 

The venue plans to install air purifiers as well. 

‘When we have finished implementing these two strategies, we will have the most state-of-the-art neighborhood venue for you to visit safely,’ the bar said.



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