LANSING (NYTIMES) - Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, a prime political target in partisan clashes over stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus outbreak, signed three executive orders on Thursday (April 30) to reinstate a state of emergency during the coronavirus pandemic.

Her order came on a day when protesters, some of them armed, gathered at the state Capitol in Lansing to oppose stay-at-home orders. State Senator Dayna Polehanki, a Democrat, shared a photograph of protesters with rifles inside the building, as well as a video of hundreds of people outside.

The governor's moves, which put into place a new state of emergency through May 28, were in response to the Republican-led legislature's refusal to extend the original emergency declaration on the day it was set to expire.

Republican lawmakers have tried to strip the governor's power to declare a state of emergency, which underpins the stay-at-home order. Michigan has had more Covid-19 deaths than every state except New York and New Jersey.

"By refusing to extend the emergency and disaster declaration, Republican lawmakers are putting their heads in the sand and putting more lives and livelihoods at risk," Ms Whitmer, a Democrat, said in a statement. "I'm not going to let that happen."

It is legal to carry firearms inside the state Capitol, but many of the protesters were not wearing masks or following social distancing measures. Some demanded to be let onto the House floor, which was not allowed, according to The Associated Press.

The demonstration was reminiscent of a larger gathering in Lansing on April 15, when thousands of protesters mobilised by conservative groups created a traffic jam on the streets around the Capitol.

Ms Whitmer on April 9 imposed some of the country's most severe restrictions, including a ban on travel to vacation homes and the sale of paint, garden supplies and furniture in large stores. Critics have emphasised that the economic shutdown was affecting livelihoods.

On Thursday, Speaker Lee Chatfield, a Republican, criticised the governor's decision to issue a new emergency order.

"Today, we offered our hand of partnership to the governor," he said in a tweet. "No politics. We're all in this together and we should all work together."

"She just said no," he added. "Very disappointing."