UPDATE: As of April 9, 2020, Governor Whitmer has extended the stay-at-home order, as well as the state’s emergency and disaster declarations, through April 30, 2020. Some details of the stay-at-home order have been changed or added.
Read the full Executive Order HERE.
Governor Whitmer issued a “stay-at-home” order on March 23, 2020 through Executive Order 2020-21. It remains in effect through April 13, 2020.
Read the full Executive Order HERE.
Read the Frequently Asked Questions about this order HERE.
The stay-at-home order, also known as shelter-in-place, is intended to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, which caused the COVID-19 disease. Individuals are directed to stay at their place of residence unless they are partaking in an outdoor activity, obtaining essential supplies like groceries and medicine, caring for a family member, or reporting to work at an exempt business. The order broadly exempts health and human services, grocery stores, certain manufacturers, gas stations, and other essential businesses.
Prohibited Activities. Public and private gatherings outside of a single household are prohibited. Individuals may leave their homes for health and safety (such as to obtain medical care), necessary supplies and services, outdoor activity, work as a critical infrastructure worker, and to care for others. When outside the residence, individuals must maintain social distancing of six or more feet from individuals other than household members.
Critical Infrastructure Workers. Businesses and operations that employ critical infrastructure workers may continue in-person operations, subject to the conditions in EO 2020-21. Critical workers must be designated in writing and include workers in the following sectors:
- Health care and public health;
- Law enforcement, public safety, and first responders;
- Food and agriculture
- Energy;
- Water, wastewater, and other public works;
- Transportation and logistics;
- Media and other communications and information technology;
- Critical manufacturing;
- Hazardous materials;
- Financial services;
- Chemical supply chains and safety; and
- Defense industrial base.
Critical Manufacturing. Critical infrastructure workers also includes individuals who work at designated manufacturers, suppliers, and distribution centers that enable, support, or facilitate the work of other critical infrastructure workers, but only to the extent those workers are necessary to do so.
Health Care and Public Health. Healthcare and human service workers may leave their homes for work. Health care workers include those at hospitals, clinics, dental offices, pharmacies, blood banks, and other healthcare providers. Child care workers are exempt but only to the extent necessary to watch the children and dependents of critical infrastructure workers.
Non-Essential Business Must Cease Except for Minimum Basic Operations. All businesses that are not essential must cease all activities that require workers to leave their residences except to the extent necessary to sustain or protect life or conduct minimum basic operations.
Minimum Basic Operations. Minimum Basic Operations includes works necessary to allow the business to maintain the value of inventory and equipment, care for animals, ensure security, process transactions (including payroll and employee benefits), or facilitate the ability of other workers to work remotely. Businesses must maintain social distancing practices by restricting the number of workers present to no more than necessary to perform the operations, promoting work from home, and keeping workers at least six feet apart. Businesses should also clean and disinfect the premises.
Religious and Nonprofit. Organizations that provide food, shelter, and other necessities for individuals with disabilities, that are economical disadvantaged, or otherwise needy may remain open.