Michigan has become the latest state to adopt a “shelter in place” order because of the growing threat from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued the order at an 11:00 news conference this morning. It will take effect tomorrow morning – Tuesday – at 12:01 am. It is expected to last at least three weeks.

The order will require most citizens to stay at home. Brief trips out for groceries and other essentials will be permitted, and critical care health care facilities will remain in operation for emergency services.

There are exceptions to the stay-at-home order. Most include employees of critical businesses, including:

– Health care and public health

– Law enforcement, public safety, and first responders.

– Food and agriculture.

– Energy.

– Water and wastewater.

– Transportation and logistics.

– Public works.

– Communications and information technology, including news media.

– Other community-based government operations and essential functions.

– Critical manufacturing.

– Hazardous materials.

– Financial services.

– Chemical supply chains and safety.

– Defense industrial base.

Child care workers are also exempt, but only to take care of the children of otherwise critical workers. Care-givers for the elderly and those with chronic health conditions are exempt, along with workers and employees at food banks and homeless shelters.

Businesses and governmental offices will be required to designate which workers are considered critical. Those not considered critical should stay at home, and work remotely if possible.

You can read the governor’s full order at our story at KeweenawReport.com.

The shelter in place order comes as Michigan’s number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases passed 1,000. Because of limited testing, officials believe there are far more cases than that in the state. Nine people have died. The first case in the Upper Peninsula was confirmed in Chippewa County yesterday. There have been cases in Wisconsin as far north as Green Bay, and Marathon, Wood and Outagamie Counties.

Link to the governor’s full order here.