LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is expected to announce a second extension of the stay-at-home order during an 11 a.m. press conference Friday.
The current one expires at the end of the month.
WATCH WHITMER'S COVID-19 UPDATE HERE AT 11 A.M.
And this comes as state Republicans are pushing back — looking to curb the governor’s authority during this state of emergency.
2,977 deaths, 35,291 cases of coronavirus confirmed in Michigan
In an effort to try and mitigate the risks of a second wave of COVID-19 hitting Michigan, the governor says an extension needs to happen. She says in order to get back to work safely, Michigan needs to re-open slowly, one step at a time.
“When I say I'm hoping to loosen some restrictions, I mean that I'll only loosen them based on the facts and data are telling when it is safe and how it is safe to do so,” said Gov. Whitmer.
But first, Friday — the governor is expected to announce an extension of the current stay-at-home order, which right now is good through the end of April.
THIS MORNING: @GovWhitmer expected to announce an extension of the stay-at-home order, expiring at the end of the month. "When I say I'm hoping to loosen some restrictions, I mean that I'll only loosen them based on what the facts and data are telling us..." @wxyzdetroit pic.twitter.com/e4IBW8grVQ
— Jenn Schanz (@JennSchanzWXYZ) April 24, 2020
Meanwhile, members of the Republican-controlled House and Senate plan to meet in-person in Lansing Friday — in part to form an oversight committee looking into the governor’s handling of the shutdown.
“After the 28 days, does the governor have carte blanche on going ahead and keeping the state of emergency in place? We don't believe that she does," said Republican state Senator Pete Lucido.
“We've turned people's lives upside down with this, and I think we, they deserve to have a mechanism where they can go in and have a conversation and dig into how were these decisions made," said Republican state Rep. Shane Hernandez, representing Port Huron.
State senators will take up two bills — both aimed at curbing the governor’s power during the health crisis.
Whitmer says when it comes to deciding how and when to lift restrictions – she’ll rely on the facts.
“It will have to be very thoughtful and precise," said Gov. Whitmer. "Mitigating risk to all and mitigating a risk of a second wave, but we will start to re-engage.”
.@GovWhitmer is getting pushback from Republicans. Both the GOP-controlled House and Senate meeting in Lansing today in part to form an oversight committee looking at how she handled the shutdown. Rep. Shane Hernandez of Port Huron spoke with @rossjonesWXYZ recently @wxyzdetroit pic.twitter.com/Qm6ow6qCvy
— Jenn Schanz (@JennSchanzWXYZ) April 24, 2020
Lawmakers meeting in-person in Lansing Friday will have their temperatures checked on the way into the capitol.
Top Democrat in the Senate, Minority Leader Jim Ananich says Friday’s sessions are just a political distraction. Again, details on that extended stay-at-home order expected later on Friday morning.
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
Find out how you can help businesses and restaurants struggling during the pandemic.
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.
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