Image Credit: Infowars.com 
A new order by the Michigan Dept. of Health requires cigar and hookah lounge patrons to wear face masks at all times.
Under the guise of preventing the spread of Covid-19, the order issued Monday effectively prohibits patrons from smoking, defeating the purpose of the establishments.
“All smoking lounges in the state must require face masks be worn at all times,” reports TheCenterSquare.com.
The memo states, “Businesses that permit smoking on their premises may also be cited for violations of the order,” and threatens businesses with an initial $200 fine, and $1,000 fines for subsequent violations.
“This includes requiring that masks be worn whenever people are in gatherings and ensuring businesses in operation do so safely, given the ongoing pandemic,” reads the memo, signed by MDHHS Departmental Analyst Jason Osoff.
Breitbart reports that “As of Wednesday morning, the order was not listed on the MDHHS website.”
In the memo, Osoff distinguishes between removing masks for eating or drinking, as permitted by a Feb. 4 order, and removing them for smoking marijuana or tobacco – which is not permitted.
“Accordingly, it is a violation of the order for a person to remove their face mask to smoke tobacco or any other substance (including vaping, marijuana, or herbal substances) while participating in a gathering. This means that tobacco specialty retail stores, hookah lounges, cigar bars, and other venues that hold an exemption from Part 126 of the Public Health Code cannot permit smoking in their facility.”
Expressing disagreement with the order, Mackinac Center for Public Policy Director of Research Michael Van Beek noted to TheCenterSquare.com the order’s timing is puzzling, and additionally could adversely affect medical marijuana users.
“These new rules would forbid any two people who do not live together from smoking in the same area, no matter if all other social distancing protocol are maintained,” Van Beek said.
“It even appears to apply to the use of medical marijuana, which could negatively affect the health of many Michiganders. It’s hard to understand why it took the department more than four months to determine that smoking posed a significant risk to COVID transmission.”
The Center Square notes nearly every cigar and hookah lounge they contacted refused to comment about the order on record, likely out of fear of retribution from the tyrannical governor.
The order comes even as Covid-19 cases appear to be on the decline in Michigan, according to data compiled by The New York Times and Google.
Follow the author on Gab: https://gab.ai/adansalazar
On Twitter: Follow @AdanSalazarWins
On Parler: https://parler.com/profile/adansalazar/
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adan.salazar.735
On Minds: https://www.minds.com/adan_infowars
Report: Covid-19 Vaccine Found to Cause Neurological Disorders