The statewide Michigan Chamber of Commerce on Saturday advised Gov. Gretchen Whitmer against implementing a shelter-in-place order that would formally advise Michigan residents to stay in their homes as the novel coronavirus outbreak continues to worsen.

The Lansing-based business group told Whitmer that such an order, which has been implemented in recent days in states like Illinois, New York and California, would only worsen the economic pain the state is already feeling as most commerce has come to a halt.

"Not all Michigan businesses need to cease operations due to the threat of COVID-19. For example, many businesses provide essential services and goods to our citizens," Michigan Chamber President and CEO Rich Studley wrote in a letter to Whitmer.

"We cannot risk a disruption in the supply chain or a break in the distribution cycle. In addition, many businesses have non-interruptible operations and those operations need to be protected as we move forward," Studley continued. "Finally, we would urge you to allow businesses to continue operations unless there is a high public health risk to employees or the general public."

As of Saturday night, Michigan had 787 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, and eight deaths.

Studley's letter caused a stir Saturday on social media and a rebuke from Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, who said public health should trump economic concerns right now.

"Decisions made can't be just made based upon the economic sense," Hackel said. "There's no question this is having a tremendous impact on our economy. But there's nothing more important than your health.

"This health issue is the crisis right now, so we need to focus our attention on it," Hackel added.

Hackel made those comments at a Saturday night press conference at the county's 911 emergency operations center in Mount Clemens, where he announced Macomb County's first death from COVID-19 and that a one-month-old infant has contracted the virus.

"This health issue is the crisis, right," Hackel said. "... This isn't just something that's made up. Somebody mentioned that earlier on that this may have been just kind of a hoax. Today we're coming to realize this is not a hoax. This is anything but."

Macomb County's health department director, Bill Ridella, M.D., believes a stay-at-home order would help mitigate further community spread of the virus, Hackel said.

"I will follow the advice of our health department director that I think we need to start considering moving in that direction," Hackel said.

On Friday afternoon Whitmer stopped short of calling for a stay-at-home policy, saying the state was "not there" at that point.

In a call with Crain's on Saturday afternoon, Studley applauded the governor's moves so far in working to combat coronavirus, but said blanket orders need be avoided or the state could face serious economic damage, which is already happening to an extent as unemployment claims have skyrocketed in recent days.

"We have to be very cautious about going from the current economic slowdown, which is necessary and understandable, and shooting past a recession to a depression," Studley told Crain's in an phone call on Saturday afternoon. "If we go too far too fast, one very likely outcome would be the permanent closure of perhaps ... tens of thousands of businesses."

Studley's letter came out hours before Whitmer ordered hair salons, barbershops and tattoo parlors to close down, following the governor's earlier orders that shut down bars before St. Patrick's Day, restricted restaurants to carry-out and delivery service and closed a raft of public-accommodating businesses such as cafes, gyms and movie theaters for two weeks.

Other business leaders in the region share Studley's sentiments. In an emailed statement, Detroit Regional Chamber President and CEO Sandy Baruah also cautioned against "blanket" orders and the economic damage they could cause.

Many businesses, Baruah said, could continue to safely operate based on the social distancing guidelines the state has already implemented.

The chamber supports the governor's current actions.

"If public health authorities deem a 'broader shelter in place' order is warranted, we urge the State to allow ample time for business operations to safely cease and allow businesses that pose little risk, or provide important products and services, to remain open within public health guidelines," Baruah said.