Questions Surround Whitmer’s “Stay At Home” Executive Order
“Stay at Home” orders have been issued in several states, including Michigan and Illinois, to blunt the spread of the novel coronavirus. Here are questions callers and experts have.
Detroit Today host Stephen Henderson speaks with reporters and Detroit Regional Chamber CEO Sandy Baruah about Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s announcement of her ‘stay at home’ order for the state, which went into effect this morning.
“I wish there was a measure that would protect the health of the public and also protect our businesses, but there is none. This is a zero sum situation.” — Sandy Baruah, Detroit Regional Chamber
There are many questions about the executive order, so Detroit Today tried to get some answers.
Listen: Reporters, Policy Expert Break Down the ‘Stay at Home’ order from Gov. Whitmer and take listener calls.
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Guests
Craig Mauger, who covers state government and politics for The Detroit News, says there are still many questions remaining for businesses around whether or not they are permitted to operate under the order. “The Ohio and Illinois orders telling people to stay at home are much more specific about who and what counts as “essential” compared to the order Gov. Whitmer announced yesterday,” says Mauger.
Jenn White, host of Reset at WBEZ Chicago, joins Henderson to discuss what it’s like being in Illinois, a state that rolled out a similar policy just days ago.
“There’s a lot of fear and a lot of concern,” says White of the general atmosphere in Chicago.
Sandy Baruah is the CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber and consulted Governor Whitmer on her “stay at home” order. Baruah says worst case scenario in terms of infections and deaths in Michigan would also be “catastrophic” for the economy, and we have to weigh that against the economic damage we’re doing now in order to protect public health.
