UNIVERSITY CENTER – Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed an executive order urging all Michigan residents to stay at home amid the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
The “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order, which goes into effect Tuesday, March 24 at 12:01 a.m., directs the temporary shutdown of all Michigan businesses which are not essential to sustaining or protecting life.
The order is in effect until Monday, April 13 at 11:59 p.m.
All Michigan citizens are also ordered to stay home to prevent the spread of coronavirus, unless they must leave to buy food or groceries or other essentials, or if they are part of the critical infrastructure workforce.
Whitmer clarified in a press conference that, in addition to grocery stores, restaurants are also allowed to stay open to provide delivery/carry-out services only.
People who must go out in public must adhere to social distancing measures outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What can be done, provided the participant follows CDC guidelines:
- Work from home
- Go to the grocery store to buy food and other necessities
- Get gasoline
- Pick up take-out food at a restaurant or order for delivery
- Go to the pharmacy to pick up medication
- Go to a medical care facility for an emergency
- Go for a walk/hike
- Any outdoor recreational activity that is consistent with CDC guidelines of staying at least six feet away from others
- Participate in online classes
- Watch a movie or TV show
- Read a book
- Any at-home activity that does not involve social gatherings with people outside the household
- Conduct meetings via teleconference or online video/group chat
- Talk to friends and family over the phone or internet
- Care for a family member or family member’s pet in another household
What is prohibited under the “stay at home” order:
- Social gatherings, public and private
- Operation of non-essential business that requires workers to leave their home
- All in-person work that is not necessary to sustain public life
“In just 13 days, we’ve gone from zero to over 1,000 COVID-19 cases,” Governor Whitmer stated in a press release. “This is an unprecedented crisis that requires all of us working together to protect our families and our communities. The most effective way we can slow down the virus is to stay home. I know this will be hard, but it will be temporary. If we all come together, get serious, and do our part by staying home, we can stay safe and save lives.”
Michigan is now one of the most recent states to issue a “stay at home” order. Other states that have done this include Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey and New York.
