Two area prosecutors announced this week they would enforce Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive orders suspending activities in Michigan considered non-essential under the statewide shutdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

Whitmer’s orders earlier this week directed Michigan residents to stay at home unless doing essential tasks such as traveling to the grocery store or pharmacy. Some also are exempted as doing essential work, such as health care.

It also is permissible to leave home for activities such as walking and hiking, provided people remain 6 feet from one another.

Dickinson County Prosecuting Attorney Lisa Richards and Menominee County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey Rogg both released statements that local law enforcement personnel who encounter clear violations will refer the cases to their respective offices.

A willful violation of an order is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine per violation, according to the prosecutors’ statements.

“Our primary objective at this point is compliance and education,” Richards said in her news release.

“Executive orders do carry the force of law and I stand ready to enforce any aspect of these orders if needed,” Rogg said. “However, given the serious nature of the pandemic, I am confident that the good citizens of Menominee County will take notice and voluntarily comply, as it is in the best interest of the entire state that we all work together to stay home as much as possible.”

Anyone with questions about the orders should check the “frequently asked questions” page at https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus, call the governor’s constituent service line at 517-335-7858 or call their local law enforcement agency.