LANSING, Mich. (WWJ) -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of disaster in Michigan and formally asked the legislature to extend the existing state of emergency by 70 days.
Whitmer's original state of emergency declaration was set to expire after 28 days -- next Tuesday -- but she is now asking lawmakers for the extension. The governor's latest executive order does not extend her "stay home, stay safe" order -- which will expire on April 13 -- but it does give her the option to extend it, as well as other executive orders in place, for up to 70 days.
The governor says Wednesday's action will allow her administration to "respond more effectively to every facet of this crisis." Whitmer formally asked the legislature for extension in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, and House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering.
"To meet the steep, varied, and ongoing demands created by the COVID-19 pandemic, my administration must continue to use the full range of tools available to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our state and its residents," her letter said. "I welcome you and your colleagues' continued partnership in fighting this pandemic."
Shirkey says he supports approving Whitmer's request to extend the emergency declaration, but 70 days is too long.
"Furthermore, we feel it is important to point out that our support for a reasonable extension of the emergency declaration does not transfer to support for a lengthy extension of the current 'Stay Home, Stay Safe' order," Shirkey said in a statement released Wednesday night. "The circumstances surrounding the outbreak of this virus in Michigan change rapidly and often. The conditions we are experiencing today will likely be different than those we encounter next week, next month, or in 70 days. As such, we feel a much shorter extension is logical to help protect our citizens and support our health systems."
Shirkey says he will "pursue a reasonable extension of the emergency declaration," but did not say how long that may be.
The governor's initial state of emergency was put in place under the Emergency Management Act of 1976, which has allowed her to issue a wide range of executive orders in the last few weeks. The Emergency Management Act requires the governor to end the state of emergency within 28 days, unless the a request for an extension is approved by resolution by both houses of the state legislature.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday announced the total number of cases statewide has risen to more than 9,300, while the death toll has reached 337.
"The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan is still climbing, and we must continue to do everything we can to slow the spread," said MDHHS Chief Deputy for Health and Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, according to a press release.
"The governor has taken a number of critical steps to protect Michigan families, and this order today will allow that work to continue. I will keep working closely with the governor and our partners across state government to mitigate the spread of COVID-19," Khaldun said.
Stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest updates on this story and around-the-clock coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. >>> LISTEN LIVE
