It was a wedding gift that no one expected when the newlyweds were celebrated in Downriver’s banquet hall on the afternoon of July 18.
But the Wayne County Public Health Division announced Wednesday that at least five people who attended the lunch reception at the Crystal Gardens Banquet Hall in Southgate now have COVID-19.
Warning that the virus may have spread to others, the health division urged everyone who attended the reception to quarantine the home and call the health division at 734-727-7078 to report their contacts. They should also be tested for coronavirus as soon as possible.
Michael McElrath, a spokesman for the health division, said the investigation is ongoing and that the Wayne County Communicable Diseases team is following up on contacts to identify possible cases. Those who tested positive for the virus were instructed to isolate themselves until authorized by public health officials.
Between 100 and 125 guests from the local community attended the indoor celebration, which had been booked approximately six months in advance, said Mort Meisner, spokesperson for Crystal Gardens and president of Royal Oak-based Mort Meisner Associates.
“There was no dance,” said Meisner. “Social distancing was practiced. Many of the many events we had scheduled have moved to fall or winter. Some have moved to an outdoor park in Southgate, but we kept going with this event because people were desperate to have it. . “
Rather than accommodate 10 people per table, Meisner said Crystal Gardens sat six. And the banquet hall where the reception took place was operating at approximately 10% of capacity that day. It has a capacity for 1,200 people.
Still, the Wayne County Public Health Division alleges that Crystal Gardens violated Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Executive Order 110, which limits meetings to no more than 10 people indoors and 100 people outside.
When asked if Crystal Gardens would be penalized for violating the order, McElrath said “the investigation is still ongoing.”
The health division is sending notices to all Wayne County banquet halls to reaffirm the executive order rules. It also plans to increase inspections in banquet halls and other large venues, including after hours and weekends, to confirm compliance with the executive order.
But Meisner questioned why restaurants can operate indoors at 50% of capacity and Crystal Gardens is considered to be in violation of the executive order when operating at only 10% of capacity.
“How is a catering room different from a restaurant for a sit-down meal?” I ask. “The answer is: it is not … It is really unfair if Joe Blow’s restaurant is allowed to be open and have 100 or 200 people in it while practicing social distancing … We should have the same standard.”
“We are aware of the governor’s order, but we believe that it is unfair to highlight the dining rooms, which serve the same function as a restaurant.”
He also questioned how health officials can determine that the people who attended the wedding transmitted the coronavirus.
“It is unfortunate that someone is ill, period,” said Meisner, “but it is very difficult to demonstrate what happened there, especially given the relatively short amount of time that has passed since the event.”
“Crystal Gardens has long been a mainstay of the Downriver community. People count on us for our funerals, weddings, retirement parties … We didn’t have a wild party there. We had lunch for a group of nice people from the Romanian community. “
The county health division urged people to avoid large gatherings, continue to practice social distancing, and wear masks to prevent the spread of the virus.
“The safety and security of Wayne County residents is our top priority,” said Carol Austerberry, Wayne County Health Officer, in a press release. “Businesses must intend to follow the rules to limit the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.”
Contact Kristen Jordan Shamus: 313-222-5997 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @kristenshamus.
