These essential Michigan businesses can remain open during 'Stay Home' order
JC Reindl
UPDATE: Additional businesses added to the list that can stay open.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's "Stay Home" executive order will require thousands of nonessential businesses across Michigan to shut their doors at midnight until at least April 14 in hopes of slowing the spread of coronavirus.
The order, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, prohibits businesses in the state from in-person work or consumer services that aren't "necessary to sustain or protect life."
The types of consumer-facing business that will be allowed to remain open include:
- Restaurants offering takeout or delivery services
- Hotels
- Grocery stores
- Convenience stores
- Gas stations and service garages
- Drug stores
- Banks and credit unions
- Laundromats
- Marijuana retailers
“Your grocery stores will be open," the governor said. "I have checked on our whole supply chain for food, and it will be accessible. Do not panic, do not hoard.”
When announcing the order Monday, Whitmer told reporters that nonessential businesses that fail to comply will be fined and forcibly shut down.
The fines could run up to $500 and owners of the scofflaw businesses could face up to 90 days in jail, according to a governor's spokesperson.
Whitmer added, “Don’t play fast and loose with what is essential and what's not. Don’t try to skirt the rules. If you are not an essential business you need to close."
More:Here's what enforcement of coronavirus 'stay home' order will look like in Michigan
More:Gov. Whitmer's Michigan 'stay at home' order: Read the full executive order here
The governor's order also designates "critical infrastructure workers" that will be allowed to continue working. Full details are listed here. These include workers in the following sectors:
- Health and public safety
- Child care
- Law enforcement and first responders
- Food and agriculture
- Energy
- Water and waste management such as trash pickup, plumbing services
- Manufactures providing essential services during the pandemic
- Funeral home and mortuary services
- Transportation and logistics
- Those supporting food, shelter and other social services for the needy
- Public works
- Communications, including those in media
- Critical manufacturing
- Financial services
- Hazardous materials
- Defense industrial base
- Workers at key supply and distribution centers
The list of critical infrastructure workers was based in part on federal guidelines, embedded below.
“Even with today’s action, the number of cases will go up today, tomorrow and the days ahead," Whitmer said. "It will take some time for us to impact this."
ContactJC Reindl: 313-222-6631 or jcreindl@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @jcreindl. Read more on business and sign up for our business newsletter.