Now that Governor Whitmer has issued her Stay Home, Stay Safe, Save Lives Executive Order, several major groups are rallying support behind her with public statements sharing that support.
Following issuance of her new order in Michigan this morning, Small Business Association of Michigan President Brian Calley issued the following statement:
“The COVID-19 pandemic is like nothing our state has ever seen and we appreciate Governor Whitmer’s leadership and thoughtful approach to taking action during this crisis. Although we know many of our members are facing severe hardship over this crisis, it is important that we trust that the Governor is making the best decisions she can based on the information available to her. We support this action to prevent further spreading of COVID-19 in Michigan and urge our members to robustly comply.
“We appreciate that Governor Whitmer has closely reviewed actions taken in other states and worked to ensure a stay at home order runs more smoothly in our state. Ensuring the continued operation of our supply chain and critical infrastructure during this time will help meet the needs of Michiganders while keeping critical businesses in operation. This order establishes an efficient process to ensure that bureaucracy does not stop critical life-saving and life-preserving work. Further, it allows for reasonable wind down of work in process and for all businesses to designate staff to perform basic minimum operations on site.
“Nothing about this situation is ideal but our focus has been on ensuring that a stay at home order is implemented in the least painful way possible for small businesses. We will continue to support small businesses and will now focus our advocacy on securing rescue packages for small business owners at both the state and federal level.
“SBAM is committed to supporting small businesses during this pandemic, providing resources to help minimize the losses this crisis is causing. We will continue to provide daily briefings and share resources and information that small businesses need as it becomes available. We understand the devastating impact this pandemic is having on small businesses across our state. Though times are tough, we encourage all Michiganders to stay calm and take dealing with this pandemic one step at a time. Together, Michigan will navigate through this crisis and move forward with life.”
Shortly after her announced order, the Michigan State Medical Society and Physicians across the state threw their support behind Gov. Whitmer as well.
The following is a public statement from Mohammed Arsiwala, MD, president of the Michigan State Medical Society, supporting Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s call for all Michigan residents to stay at home in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 virus:
“As Michigan’s physician community, on the front lines of caring for those infected by the COVID-19 virus and working to limit the spread of the virus to others, we cannot urge strongly enough that every Michigan resident take this situation seriously and stay home to protect both themselves, their families and their neighbors.
“Supplies are scarce. Testing kits are limited. COVID-19 is highly contagious and cases in Michigan and around the country are rising. Staying home helps Michigan physicians and our health care system better fight back.
“We are grateful for – and support – Governor Whitmer’s executive order today asking all Michigan residents to stay at home, in an effort to flatten the curve. This is the most important thing we can all do to protect the most vulnerable in our community. It is also the most important thing we can all do to return our lives to what we remember and miss.”
