The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic is creating havoc for owners of Michigan businesses such as restaurants and retail shops that involve contact with the public.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has ordered the closure of some businesses, such as fitness centers and day spas, and has limited business for others, such as banning dine-in service for bars and restaurants.

Many business owners acknowledge the need for such stringent measures. But they also are unnerved at the financial implications.

Daniel Roth and Ryan Van Bergen shut down their Ann Arbor gym, Blue Lion Fitness, last Friday, March 13.

“We’ll get through this, but I can see how a lot of businesses unfortunately won’t,” Roth said. “That’s a scary and sad thing, to think that doing the right thing by closing your doors may mean you possibly may never get to reopen them again.”

Here are some suggestions from business owners and associations.

1. Shop online.

“If you’re going to shop online, don’t go to Amazon,” said Meegan Holland, spokeswoman for the Michigan Retailers Association. “We’re asking Michigan customers to keep it local."

2. Shop over the phone.

If your favorite eatery or retailer doesn’t have an online site for ordering or shopping, call them and place the order over the phone.

“Call them,” Holland said. “They’re probably sitting there with plenty of time on their hands.”

3. Buy gift cards.

Maybe now is not the time to browse through your favorite boutique or art gallery, and your favorite restaurant doesn’t have its dining room open.

But buying gift cards that you can use in the future could make all the difference in helping to pay the bills for now.

“All of us are really grateful” for gift card purchases," said Summer Schriner, who owns two shops in Lansing’s Old Town. “It’s helping put money in the coffers. And that’s what most of us are most concerned about right now, is just getting that rent paid and making sure the employees are paid.”

4. Order take-out or have food delivered.

Restaurants and bars can still offer delivery service, window service, walk-up service, drive-through service, or drive-up service. Restaurants may allow five people inside at a time to pick up orders, so long as they stay six feet apart from each other.

“It’s important Michigan take the necessary steps to protect public health, but we also realize the importance of supporting local retail, eateries and stores,” Gary McDowell, director, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development director, said in a press release. “You can still get your favorite foods, just in a different way."

For people who are staying home, check with your favorite restaurants on delivery options -- or restaurants may be willing to run out an order to your vehicle if you’re hesitant about going inside the building.

5. Post an online review.

Holland and Schriner said that positive online reviews do make a difference, and people can support their favorite establishments by going onto its Facebook page or third-page sites to post comments.

6. Promote on social media.

Schriner said she’s urging people to go onto the Facebook pages for her businesses, so they can see what’s going on the stores. Sharing those posts helps a lot, she added, as does liking a post and subscribing for updates.

“All of us are feeling really, really uneasy about what the next weeks and months are going are going to bring,” said Jen Brummitt, brand strategy manager for Gazelle Sports, a retail chain that specializes in running gear. “But we’re hopeful and we’re doing everything we can to keep our staff safe and our customers safe and our communities moving the best that we can.”

PREVENTION TIPS

Michigan’s State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips:

What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases:

· Always cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.

· Stay home if you are sick and advise others to do the same.

· Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

· Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

· Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

· Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if soap and warm water are not available.

· Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces(computers, keyboards, desks, etc.).

· It’s not too late to get your flu shot! While the influenza vaccine does not protect against COVID-19 infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season.

READ MORE:

Complete coverage at mlive.com/coronavirus

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