(WXYZ) — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is asking the state legislature to extend the state of emergency, which is set to expire at the end of the month. That is not the same as the stay-at-home order, which was an executive order signed by Whitmer.
The stay-at-home order has already been extended until May 15.
If the state legislature does approve Whitmer's request for a 28-day extension of the state of emergency, it doesn't automatically mean the stay-at-home order will be extended. Instead, Whitmer would have to once again issue an executive order.
The state of emergency was originally on March 10, the day the first two cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Michigan.
Under the Michigan Emergency Management Act, the governor may declare a state of emergency or state of disaster, which will allow the governor to activate applicable relief forces.
With an emergency declaration, the state is able to help local governments "to save lives, protect property and the public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the state," according to Public Act 390 of 1976, which is called the Emergency Management Act.
Last year alone, Whitmer declared several states of emergency, ranging from extreme cold temperatures to flooding in several Michigan counties.
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