The number of small businesses still open in Michigan has fallen by 35.8% since January. This means the pandemic and government responses to it have forced more than one-third of all small businesses here to close their doors, with many likely to remain closed permanently.

That’s higher than the national average of 28.9%.

The data comes from Womply, a marketing firm that says it is used by more than 500,000 businesses.

It was shared by TrackTheRecovery.org, a website maintained by Opportunity Insights, a not-for-profit organization located at Harvard University.

The website hopes to track the impact of the pandemic on the economy.

The Michigan Restaurant that Lodging Association stated that nearly 5,000 restaurants and hotels here are at risk of permanent closure if state lockdown restrictions don’t change.

The Michigan Liquor Control Commission has suspended the liquor license of another Michigan restaurant for violating COVID-19 orders imposed by the state health department.

The latest liquor license suspension occurred Dec. 2 and involves a Gaylord restaurant. It allowed in-person dining without requiring face coverings for staff and patrons, and it failed to prohibit patrons from congregating, according to a press release issued through the Michigan State Police.

The state has suspended the liquor licenses of seven restaurants/bars thus far for not following state-ordered epidemic protocols.