When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced an initial stay-at-home order for Michigan residents in late March to limit the spread of COVID-19, she didn’t get much pushback.

That changed when she announced an extension of the blanket ban on non-essential business and activity through April 30 and added a few new restrictions on travel and stores allowed to remain open.

Several Republican lawmakers voiced their concerns Thursday with various aspects of the administration’s COVID-19 response.

House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, called the order “a one-size-fits-all approach that puts fear ahead of public safety," and said the government shouldn’t be deciding what is and isn’t essential and instead should focus on what jobs and activities can be done safely.

And Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, said Michigan residents should be trusted with the ability to go back to their jobs and reopen their businesses if they’re in regions that aren’t experiencing growth in COVID-19 infection rates.

“Governor Whitmer’s decision to extend the Order for another three weeks without commonsense revisions will unnecessarily hurt regions of our state and sectors of our economy that can operate, safely,” he said in a statement.

The extension of the stay-at-home order was announced at the same time health officials reported there have been 1,076 deaths from the virus statewide. Michigan on Thursday became the third state to report at least 1,000 deaths, following New York and New Jersey.

For the 11th consecutive day, Michigan is reporting more than 1,000 new confirmed cases of coronavirus. However, the 1,158 additional confirmed cases announced today are the fewest new ones Michigan has seen in a single day since March 31.

Michigan has 21,504 total confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Whitmer and Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said in a Thursday news conference extreme social distancing measures are having an impact, but have to be maintained to effectively fight the disease.

“Too many people are getting sick and too many people are dying,” Khaldun said. “Without sustained social distancing measures, meaning if we loosen up too soon, more people will die and hospitals will become overwhelmed.”

Asked about the exceptions to the order some lawmakers and industry groups are seeking - including access to golf courses, landscaping and gardening services and home renovations - Whitmer said the economy will keep suffering for longer if these measures are not taken.

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

In the long term, Republicans are seeking a transition plan to bring workplaces back online with the help of aggressive health and safety measures.

Shirkey and Sen. Ken Horn, R-Frankenmuth, are heading up a bipartisan Senate workgroup tasked with coming up with recommendations for best practices to transition back to work based on input from businesses, medical professionals and citizens. They’re hoping to have recommendations to Whitmer by April 17.

In a Tuesday press call, Shirkey said he believes continuing to restrict unnecessary travel and congregating is legitimate, and is advocating for a step-by-step process to bring the economy back up to speed.

“I believe there is plenty of evidence to support that we can be just as safe at work, as we are at home,” he said, later adding: “This in no way is an indication that we think there should be lifted complete wholesale lifting of restrictions."

Whitmer said based on the current data, she feels April 30 is an appropriate window for the stay-at-home order. But she said it’s going to continue to take time to reengage the economy, noting any next steps need to be science-driven.

“The extension almost certainly won’t be the last we have to say about how we protect the safety of the people of our state,” she said.

The new stay-at-home order took effect 11:59 p.m. April 9, 2020 and runs through April 30. It takes the place of the previous order and bars non-essential business and travel outside the home.

Want to learn more about what is and isn’t essential under Michigan’s revised stay-at-home order? Here’s a breakdown of some of the more frequently questioned provisions:

Fresh fruits and vegetables lie on a refrigerated counter at Market on Michigan Ave. in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan on Tuesday, September 3, 2019.Emil Lippe | MLive.com

Grocery and convenience stores: Allowed, with exceptions

Grocery stores and other retailers that sell food, medicine and other essentials are allowed to remain open during the stay-at-home order, although they’ll now be subject to additional occupancy restrictions and be required to shut down non-essential areas of the store, including sections dedicated to carpeting, flooring, furniture, garden centers, plant nurseries or paint.

“If you’re not buying food or medicine or other essential items, you should not be going to the store,” Whitmer said of her decision Thursday.

Many Michigan retailers that were allowed to remain open had already begun taking social distancing precautions, including limiting occupancy in their stores, but that is now required under the revised order.

Large stores must limit the number of people in the store at one time to no more than 4 customers for every 1,000 square feet of customer floor space. Small stores must limit capacity to 25 percent of the total occupancy limits, including employees, under fire codes.

If there are lines, stores will be required to establish markings to ensure six feet of social distancing while customers wait to enter the store.

The additional requirements are more restrictive than what many retailers were hoping for, said Meegan Holland, vice president of communications and marketing for the Michigan Retailers Association.

“We certainly want to respect safe distancing CDC guidelines and we want people to be safe,” she said. “We think there are ways it can be done and still allow these retailers to bring some revenue in.”

Related: Michigan’s updated coronavirus stay-at-home order will close garden centers and other parts of grocery stores

Related: Michigan grocery stores slammed after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s coronavirus stay-at-home order

Garden beds, MLive file photo (Sara Faraj | MLive.com)Sara Faraj | MLive.com

Garden centers and nurseries: Not allowed

Garden centers were specifically called out in Thursday’s executive order as non-essential, days after the Michigan Farm Bureau requested the governor consider the retail sale of plants essential infrastructure, suggesting retailers were willing to comply with increased restrictions like curbside delivery.

In recent comments to Michigan Farm Bureau publication Michigan Farm News, the bureau’s Horticulture Specialist Audrey Sebolt estimated the gardening industry could lose out on between $580 and $700 million if growers can’t sell their plants, and said people might want to turn to gardening as a way to cope with stress.

“For many growers, if they’re not allowed to sell the plants already growing in greenhouses, it will mean a complete loss and an entire year without income for both the owners and their employees,” Sebolt said. “Our growers simply would like to be able to get their product into the hands of those who need it.”

(Courtesy Michigan Lottery)

Lottery sales: Allowed, technically

Whitmer’s initial order didn’t deem the lottery essential, but the tickets are sold at convenience stores, which are considered an essential business.

Some, including state Rep. Mari Manoogian, D-Birmingham, have called for in-person lottery ticket sales to be suspended during the stay-at-home order.

During a recent coronavirus town hall, Whitmer said she’s aware of the concern about people congregating around the lottery, “which is something we’re taking a very serious look at.”

“I have become aware of the serious concern about people congregating around the lottery, which is something we’re taking a very serious look at,” she said.

The lottery wasn’t mentioned at all in Thursday’s order, meaning there’s still no specific ban on buying lotto tickets in person.

Related: Michigan Lottery warns public about increase in prize scams during coronavirus outbreak

MLive file photo Neil Blake | MLiveNeil Blake | MLive.com

Travel between residences: Not allowed after April 10

Have a cabin or vacation home up north? Michigan residents shouldn’t be traveling between multiple properties during the stay-at-home order.

Those who have multiple homes in Michigan will no longer be allowed to travel freely between those properties as part of the latest stay-at-home order.

After April 10, “travel between two residences is not permitted," the order states. However, returning from out of state or traveling to a residence out of Michigan is allowed.

The order comes three days after James Janisse, the village president of Elk Rapids, Michigan reached out to the governor, urging her to force Michiganders to make a one-time choice on which home they want to live in during the stay-at-home order.

Destination communities are concerned about the ability to fight the COVID-19 virus in small towns. Janisse says people arriving in the small towns are not self-quarantining and going out to grocery stores, gas stations and other businesses deemed essential and that remain open.

“House activity rivals that of Independence Day and Harbor Days,” Janisse said in a letter to Whitmer. “At any other time, this would be cause for celebration, but right now it is not.”

Related: Michiganders can’t go back and forth to vacation homes under Gov. Whitmer’s latest stay-at-home order

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Outdoor recreation: Allowed

Whitmer has urged Michigan residents to continue participating in outdoor activity as long as aggressive social distancing practices are followed as a means to benefit mental and physical health.

So far, most state parks, trails and waterways are still open for public use, although the state Department of Natural Resources opted to close Tippy Dam Recreation Area due to crowds and warned more closures could come if social distancing guidelines aren’t followed.

People are encouraged to stay local when it comes to outdoor recreation. State campgrounds, lodging and other park facilities are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic - campgrounds are currently set to reopen May 15.

Many local communities have closed playgrounds, local parks and boat launches over coronavirus concerns.

Related: When traveling to Michigan outdoor destinations during the stay-home order, how far is too far?

Related: Some Michigan cities closing boat launches during coronavirus spread

A state representative sent a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urging her to reopen the state's golf courses because playing golf is 'really no different than hiking, biking or jogging through a local park.' (MLive File Photo by Kathryn Ziesig)Kathryn Ziesig | MLive.com

Golf courses: Not allowed

Some have called on Whitmer to loop golf courses in with essential activity as outdoor recreation, including state Rep. Graham Filler, R-DeWitt.

In a statewide address Thursday afternoon, Whitmer said golf is not life-essential and therefore courses will remain closed until at least April 30 like many other establishments under her Executive Order 20-21.

“When you go to the golf course, what happens?” Whitmer said. “You have to pay someone. Someone has to show up to take your money. They have to go and get your tee time and hand someone your clubs possibly after you get out of the cart after you’ve touched it.

“There are people who have to show up and go to work for your recreation and we’re exposing all of them to COVID-19 as well as the golfer. So, for the sake of the health of our state, it’s really important that we realize that we’re all in this together.”

Filler and some golfers have argued steps can be taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, including allowing only one person per cart, sanitizing carts before and after each use, scheduling tee times over the phone or online and prohibiting players from touching things like the flagsticks.

Related: Golf isn’t life essential, says Michigan governor, who orders courses to remain closed

Related: Reopen Michigan’s golf courses, state representative urges Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

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