Orange County Mayor Demings issued an executive “Stay at Home” order, ordering all non-essential retail and commercial businesses to close and all residents to stay home from non-essential travel beginning Thursday, March 26, 11:00pm.  To read the executive order, click here https://www.orangecountyfl.net/EmergencySafety/Coronavirus.aspx#.Xns-q4hKhPZ

This exert from the Executive Order defines what businesses are essential

Section 2. Non-Essential Businesses and Essential Businesses. 

(a) All non-essential retail and commercial businesses are hereby ordered temporarily closed, including but not limited to, whether indoors or outdoors, locations with amusement rides, carnivals, water parks, pools, zoos, museums, arcades, fairs, children’s play centers, playgrounds, theme parks, bowling alleys, pool halls, movie and other theaters, concert and music halls, country clubs, social clubs and fraternal organizations. 

(b) The following retail and commercial businesses are deemed essential, and may remain open:

(1) Healthcare providers, including, but not limited to, hospitals, doctors’ and dentists’ offices, urgent care centers, clinics, rehabilitation facilities, physical therapists, mental health professionals, psychiatrists, therapists, pharmacies, veterinarians and animal care providers; 

(2) Grocery stores, farmers’ markets, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, food banks, convenience stores, and other establishments engaged in theretail sale of canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh meats, fish, and poultry, and any other household consumer products (such as cleaning and personal care products). This authorization includes stores that sell groceries and other non-grocery products, and products necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operations of residences; 

(3) Food cultivation, including farming, livestock, and fishing; 

(4) Businesses that provide food, shelter, social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals. Hotels, motels and other housing providers;  

(5) Newspapers, television, radio, and other media services;

(6) Gas stations; 

(7) Auto-supply, auto-repair, related facilities, and towing companies; 

(8) Banks and related financial institutions;

(9) Hardware and home improvement stores; 

(10) Licensed contractors and other tradesmen, appliance repair personnel, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences and other structures;

(11) Businesses providing mailing and shipping services, including post office boxes;  

(12) Laundromats, dry cleaners, and laundry service providers;  

(13) Restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food, but subject to the limitations and requirements under Federal, State or Local Emergency Orders. Schools and other entities that typically provide free food services to students or members of the public may continue to do so on the condition that the food is provided to students or members of the public on a pick-up and takeaway basis only. Schools and other entities that provide food services under this exemption shall not permit the food to be eaten at the site where it is provided, or at any other gathering site;

(14) Businesses that supply office products needed for people to work from home;  

(15) Businesses that sell medical equipment and supply providers. Also, businesses that supply other essential businesses with support and supplies necessary to operate, and which do not interact with general public; 

(16) Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods, or services directly to residences; 

(17) Airlines, taxis, and other private transportation providers providing transportation services via automobile, truck, bus, or train; 

(18) Home-based care for seniors, adults, or children;  

(19) Assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and adult day care centers, and senior residential facilities; 

(20) Legal or accounting services and notaries public; 

(21) Landscape and pool care businesses, including residential landscape and pool care ser/ices, and maintenance of property, equipment and grounds of businesses, whether or not currently open to the public;

(22) Childcare facilities providing services that enable employees exempted in this Emergency Executive Order to work, as permitted. To the extent practical, childcare facilities shall operate under the following mandatory conditions:

     a. Childcare shall take place in stable groups often (10) or fewer people (inclusive of childcare providers for the group);       

b. Children and childcare providers shall not change from one group to another; and  

c. If more than one group of children is cared for at one facility, each group shall be in a separate room, and groups shall not mix or interact with each other;

(23) Businesses operating at an airport, government facility, or government office;  

(24) Pet supply stores;

(25) Logistics providers, including warehouses, trucking, consolidators, fumigators, and handlers;

(26) Telecommunications providers, including sales of computer or telecommunications devices and the provision of home telecommunications, to include private security businesses;

(27) Providers of propane or natural gas; 

(28) Construction sites, irrespective of the type of building; 

(29) Architectural, engineering, and land surveying services; 

(30) Factories, manufacturing facilities, bottling plants, or other industrial uses;

(31) Waste management services, including collection and disposal of waste; and 

(32) Businesses interacting with customers solely through electronic or telephonic means; 

(33) Businesses delivering products via mailing, shipping, or delivery services; 

(34) Office space and administrative support necessary to perform any of the above listed essential retail or commercial business activities; and

(35) In addition to essential businesses listed above, any individuals that are employed in or working to maintain continuity of operations of the federal critical infrastructure sectors as more particularly described at http ://www.cisa.gov/identifying-critical-infrastructure-durin -covid-19. This link identifies a number of critical infrastructure sectors as vital to the United States including (1) healthcare and public benefits, (2) transportation systems and logistics, (3) communications, (4) water and wastewater, (5) food and agriculture, (6) nuclear reactors, hazardous materials and waste, (7) other governmental facilities, operations and essential functions, (8) energy, (9) financial services, (10) commercial facilities, (11) emergency services, (12) defense industrial base, (13) critical manufacturing, (14) chemical, and (15) information technology. This exception only applies to individuals working in one of these critical infrastructure sectors while or during the course of employment in and performing their work in that sector.

     (c) This Order does not affect or limit the operations of Orange County, any municipality, the Orange County School District, any educational institution, whether public or private, or Federal office or facility, or any public utility, except that such entities shall endeavor to abide by the prohibitions or restrictions of any County, municipal. State or Federal Emergency Order, as applicable.

     (d) This Order does not limit the number of persons who may be physically present performing services at any location where an essential business is being conducted or operated, except as expressly set forth herein or otherwise governed by a State or Federal Order or regulation. Employers and employees of such essential businesses are urged to practice social distancing, such as keeping at least six (6) feet apart and limiting group size to less than ten (10) people.

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