Source: Detroit Free Press | Paul Egan and Kathleen Gray

LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appeared to move closer to favoring a “shelter in place” order to help stem the spread of the coronavirus during appearances Friday on MSNBC and CNN.

But later in the day, she told Michigan reporters that “I’m not there yet,” when it comes to that type of order.

Though details of such orders can vary from state to state, they generally involve telling people to stay at  home, except for essential purposes, and telling non-essential businesses to close and send their employees home. Exceptions to such orders can sometimes include leaving home to shop for food, for hiking for exercise, or to walk a dog.

Whitmer appeared on national TV less than an hour after state officials announced confirmed cases of coronavirus in Michigan had topped 500, with at least three deaths.

Though Whitmer did not say she planned to issue a “shelter in place” order, she did not try to tamp down the idea as strongly as she did Friday morning on WWJ Newsradio 950, when she said there were no plans for such an order, or even any discussions about it in her office.

Asked by host Katy Tur why the state had not issued such an order, Whitmer said the situation is “moving quickly” and “evolving,” and Michigan has been learning from governors in California, which has already issued such an order, and was in conversations with Illinois, where such an order was expected at the time of Whitmer’s interview and was issued by Gov. J.B. Pritzker later Friday afternoon. In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo also told residents Friday to stay home except for essential business.

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“I’m grateful that we’ve got colleagues across the country with whom we can share best practices,” Whitmer said.

“We’ve taken some aggressive steps and we’re continually evaluating what is next.”

Tur then said to Whitmer: “So it sounds like if you’re not doing it now, you’re on that path.”

“It’s really important that every decision we make is thought out,” Whitmer replied.”We’ve got to move forward and be swift,” but every order she issues “has ramifications,” and it’s important to make sure any decision is the one in the best interests of the people of Michigan.

About 30 minutes later, on CNN with host Jake Tapper, Whitmer said: “The information is changing literally by the minute,” and “I would anticipate additional orders coming out of my office in the minutes, hours and days ahead.”

More: Michigan coronavirus: 225 new cases push state total over 500

More: Whitmer orders postponement of non-essential medical, dental procedures

Still, at a 4:30 p.m. news conference, after the TV appearances, Whitmer said chatter on social media Thursday about an order that was supposedly pending to shelter in place was “stirring things up and creating anxiety and fear and anger based on nothing that was actually concrete.”

“I recognize not having plans to do something right now doesn’t mean we won’t have to, at some point, take more aggressive action.”

Whitmer said that “if and when we’re in a position where we think (sheltering in place) is an important next move, I will absolutely communicate that personally to the public.” Until then, “it’s Irresponsible for anyone to imply, read into or broadcast anything other than that.”

Under a “shelter in place” order, residents are directed to stay at home, except for essential activities.

About 7 million people in northern California have been under such an order since Monday night, and it was recently extended to the entire state. There are usually many exceptions to the stay-home order, including for reasons related to health and safety or taking care of a sick relative.

Tapper told Whitmer he thought that if given truth serum, both Gov. Gavin Newsom of California and Cuomo of New York would say that he wished he had issued a “shelter in place” order much sooner than he did. Whitmer nodded her head slightly in the affirmative as Tapper spoke.

Asked by Tapper why she has not issued such an order, Whitmer said she wished there was more clear direction from the federal government on best practices and it’s not good to have “a hodgepodge” of policies and orders around the country.

That said, she and her officials are studying the issue “to see if that’s something we need to do here in Michigan,”

The order for California’s Bay Area said, in part, that it “requires all individuals anywhere in San Francisco to shelter in place — that is, stay at home — except for certain essential activities and work to provide essential business and government services or perform essential public infrastructure construction, including housing.”

Under the order, people are allowed out only to shop for food and health care supplies, to help family and friends, or leave the area if they are not residents. County health officials also said outside recreation, including dog-walking and hikes, were allowed.

Whitmer said the fact that she made a request to President Donald Trump to provide federal funds to pay for services from the National Guard may have fed some of the rumors about a pending order.

“The National Guard will be used to aid in the distribution of food and supplies to families and business,” Whitmer said. “I want to be very clear because there’s a lot of misinformation out there. I was asking for money to help distribute food and supplies. I am not calling for martial law. That is a rumor and it’s false, its dangerous to foment fear.”

USA Today contributed to this report.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4.  Read more on Michigan politics and sign up for our elections newsletter.