LANSING – Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed an executive order requiring Michiganders to stay at home unless they are on an essential errand.

The governor painted a dire picture of the trajectory Michigan is on with COVID-19.

"The only tool that we have to fight it at the moment and to support our health care system to respond is to give them the opportunity by buying some time. And let me tell you why that's so important. We have roughly 10 million people in our state. There is a model that anticipates if we stay on our current trajectory, just like Italy, over 70% of our people could get infected with COVID-19. Of that 7 million people projected, about a million of them would need to be hospitalized. We have about 25,000 acute care beds in Michigan. That's where we are headed currently."

Whitmer says despite warnings, too many people are out and about unnecessarily. She says even with greater restrictions it will take time to impact the spread.

The order takes effect at midnight tonight and will continue until medical resources are deemed sufficient.

Whitmer said Michigan Schools will remain closed through April 13th and she speak more on that later.

Whitmer emphasized that it is an order, not a recommendation. She said businesses that try to skirt the rules could face penalties and fines.

Businesses that should remain open include grocers, pharmacies, banks, credit union and gas stations, as well as carry out from restaurants.