UPDATE: Despite criticism, Gov. Whitmer defends revised stay-at-home order

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, ripped into Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a social media post Friday for extending her “stay home” order, criticizing the move as “destroying our health by ruining our livelihoods.”

He repeated the line three times for effect and asked Michigan residents to tell Whitmer that businesses can operate while simultaneously following COVID-19 preventative measures. She extended the “stay home” order to April 30 in an announcement on Thursday, April 9.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extends coronavirus stay-at-home order through April 30

“Tell her we are doing our best to follow the new Big 3: hygiene-distancing-masks,” he wrote in the Facebook post.

Here’s my message today: OUR Governor IS DESTROYING OUR HEALTH BY KILLING OUR LIVELIHOODS! Under the guise of... Posted by Mike Shirkey on Friday, April 10, 2020

Shirkey asked people who reached out to Whitmer to be assertive, but respectful.

“Tell her we agree....we need to dramatically restrict uncontrolled, casual gatherings and interactions. And tell her if she wants us to follow and trust her...she needs to trust us!” he wrote.

Several Republic legislators criticized Whitmer Thursday when she announced the “stay home” order extension, which added restrictions such as traveling between two residences within the state and requiring stores to limit customers inside.

With Michigan’s coronavirus stay-at-home order extended, frustration builds over what’s been deemed non-essential

Shirkey clarified his post on Saturday, saying that he is not looking for a “wholesale reopening of the economy," but that “there are many people that can” start safely working again.

“We must continue to have restrictions on social distancing...but there’s room for much-needed common sense," he said in a phone interview with MLive. “Businesses are proving that they can walk and chew gum at the same time and are capable of protecting their customers, suppliers and employees.”

State officials confirmed that Friday, April 10 was the deadliest day yet in the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The state reported 205 new deaths, which was nearly double the previous one-day high of 118. To date, 1,282 deaths in Michigan are being attributed to the COVID-19 virus.

The Senate Majority Leader, also the founder and owner of Jackson-based manufacturer OrbitForm, suggested his company start developing N95 mask sanitizer to fill local personal protective needs.

‘Desperation is pretty intense,’ company president says of creating N95 mask sanitizer

Whitmer’s extension of the order may have “unforeseen consequences" such as the rise in food costs, Shirkey said.

“All people understand how delicate our ecosystem is in this world,” he said. “If we take out one element of our ecosystem, it can have unforeseen damages. These measures will have consequences in our supply-chain ecosystem. When farmers cannot get repair parts, that can change how much our food costs.”

The measures have also replaced economic “demand with fear,” he said. Shirkey’s business operates in Jackson, which has seen manufacturing jobs grow to surpass pre-recession levels from 2008 over the last decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Any loosening of restrictions, even to help certain industries, will keep the economy suffering for longer than if the preventative measures were not maintained, Whitmer said Thursday.

“Every single exception to the Stay Home, Stay Safe order makes this more porous and less likely to work,” she said.

Read more from MLive:

Saturday, April 11: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Michigan reports 205 new coronavirus deaths, nearly double previous daily peak

In unusual session, Michigan lawmakers OK 23-day extension of coronavirus state of emergency