Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a new executive order on Friday that will allow some types of work – including construction, real estate and outdoor work – to resume next Thursday.
The move follows Whitmer’s decision Thursday night to extend the state’s coronavirus emergency declaration by executive order – after the Republican-controlled Legislature advanced a bill that would not have renewed the original declaration – as well as a previous order requiring theaters, bars and casinos to stay closed and limiting restaurants to carry-out, drive-thru and delivery service.
Whitmer extended the state’s stay-at-home order until May 15 last week, and has faced pushback from protesters for her efforts to keep the state closed in order to try to contain the coronavirus’ spread.
“As part of our MI Safe Start Plan, we are bringing business and labor leaders together to ensure that while we lift some restrictions on the previous Stay Home, Stay Safe order, we are also protecting workers and their families from the spread of this virus,” Whitmer said during a news conference Friday.
She added, “I want to be clear: We must all continue to stay home and stay safe as much as possible. If we all keep doing our part, we can reduce the risk of a second wave and reengage our economy safely and responsibly.”
Manufacturing for the express purpose of producing items that will help businesses modify workspaces to keep employees safe, like partitions or cubicles, will also resume, Whitmer said.
Whitmer’s order requires those businesses to adopt measures to protect their workers against the spread of Covid-19. Construction sites will have to adopt a set of best practices, such as holding daily health screenings, identifying high-risk areas and enabling handwashing and social distancing.
President Donald Trump has largely looked to undermine Whitmer’s efforts at a controlled reopening.
He sided with a group of around 400 to 700 protesters who gathered at the state Capitol on Thursday in what organizers said was support of the state senators as they voted not to extend Whitmer’s state of emergency. Multiple protesters were spotted carrying guns into the Capitol and were pictured screaming at police as they demanded to be let into the legislative chambers, which are closed due to social distancing measures.
“The Governor of Michigan should give a little, and put out the fire,” Trump wrote on Friday. “These are very good people, but they are angry. They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a deal.”
Whitmer responded to Trump’s comments during the Friday press briefing.
“You know the spirit of make a deal, and the spirit of the outreach that’s happened from the Legislature about trying to negotiate sectors opening up,” she said. “You know, we’re not in a political crisis where we should just negotiate and find some common ground here – we’re in a public health crisis.”
The state’s response is “going to be driven by the data. It’s going to be driven by the medical experts,” Whitmer added. “Not political polls, not political posturing and not political maneuvers like you saw yesterday at the Capitol.”
CNN’s Annie Grayer and Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.