JoAnn Fabrics, a chain of arts and crafts stores with a large presence in Michigan, has been denied a request to continue operating during Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home order that runs through at least April 13.

The company in a March 24-dated letter requested permission to continue full retail operations because “hundreds of hospitals and thousands of generous volunteers (were) turning to JoAnn” for materials to make much-needed face masks, face shields, hospital scrubs and gowns, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s March 30 response to the Hudson, Ohio-based company said.

Nessel said that justification doesn’t suffice, since the same materials are able to be sold online without in-person contact.

“I can appreciate the desire of businesses that want to remain open and provide their customers with the same products and services they have come to expect from these retailers, but there must be common-sense protections in place during this global health emergency,” Nessel said. “Employees should be permitted to work from home whenever possible and businesses that are not necessary to sustaining or protecting life should comply with the order by temporarily suspending in-person operations. Reducing person-to-person contact can help slow the spread of COVID-19, and we all need to do our part.”

Whitmer’s order “prohibits any person or entity from operating a business or conducting operations that require workers to leave their homes or places of residence, except to the extent those workers are necessary to sustain or protect life or to conduct basic minimum operations,” Nessel wrote to JoAnn Fabrics. “The order is to be ‘construed broadly to prohibit in-person work that is not necessary to sustain or protect life.’”

Nessel said the company quickly complied with her finding that company would pose a public heath risk and violate the governor’s order if it continued storefront operations in Michigan.

MLive emailed the JoAnn representatives for comment and is awaiting response. JoAnn opened its first shop in Cleveland nearly 75 years ago and has grown to a chain with 865 stores in 49 states, according to its website.

Whitmer issued her order that included the temporary closure of all non-essential businesses on March 23.

The Attorney General’s Office published information for employees regarding their rights under the stay-at-home executive order, as well as information for employers

A summary of allowed and forbidden activities while the executive order is in place can be found here .

Read all of MLive’s coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops ) and when you go into places like stores.

To read more on MLive:

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