Here’s what businesses can stay open under SLO County’s shelter-at-home order
San Luis Obispo County officials announced a shelter-at-home order Wednesday afternoon, ordering people to limit their travel and stay in their homes.
The move, which is meant to help curb the rise of local coronavirus cases, prohibits public and private gatherings of any number of people outside a household or living space, except under limited circumstances.
Basically, officials say, stay home unless you really need to go out.
The order does make exceptions for small things like going on a walk through your neighborhood or other types of outdoor activities. But in general, people are urged to not be out and about too long, and should adhere to appropriate social distancing rules while they are.
During the order, which goes into effect at 5 p.m. Thursday, local governments, public safety agencies and businesses offering essential services will continue to operate.
That leaves the question: What qualifies a business as essential?
In a document released Wednesday evening, the county specified 23 types of businesses that would be allowed to continue to operate throughout the extent of the order.
According to the order, businesses consisting entirely of employees or contractors working from their own homes may continue their operations — so some businesses that don’t fit into the categories below, but that have been transitioned entirely online, could be exempt.
Here are the types of businesses that have been described as “essential” by San Luis Obispo County and are encouraged to continue to operate throughout the shelter-at-home order:
1. Healthcare operations and essential infrastructure
2. Grocery and household consumer product providers
This includes grocery stores, certified farmers’ markets, produce stands, supermarkets, food banks, convenience stores, and other businesses that sell items including canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, fish and poultry as well as household consumer goods such as cleaning and personal care products.
It also includes stores that sell groceries as well as other non-grocery products, and those necessary to maintaining safety, sanitation and essential operation of homes, according to the order.
3. Food cultivation
Agriculture-based businesses such as farming, livestock and fishing will all continue.
4. Businesses that provide services for economically disadvantaged
This includes businesses that provide food and shelter, including hotels and motels, as well as social services and other “necessities of life” for economically disadvantaged individuals.
5. Media services
This includes newspapers, television, radio and other media services.
6. Auto
This includes gas stations, as well as auto-supply and repair facilities.
7. Banks and financial institutions
8. Hardware stores
9. Sanitation and safety services
This includes plumbers, electricians, exterminators and other services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation and essential operation of homes, essential activities and other essential businesses.
10. Mail
This includes businesses that provide mailing and shipping services. Includes post office boxes.
11. Educational institutions
This includes K-12 schools and universities, although most educational providers in San Luis Obispo County have already chosen to close their facilities for a time to stop the spread of coronavirus.
12. Laundry service
Including laundromats, dry cleaners and other laundry service providers.
13. Restaurants and prepared food providers
This only applies to those that provide meals for delivery or carry out, according to the order. School districts that have provided free food during their closures will be allowed to continue doing so as long as the meals are provided on a pick-up and take-away basis only, according to the order.
14. Businesses that supply products needed for people to work from home
15. Businesses that supply other essential businesses with support or supplies necessary to operate
16. Delivery services
Including delivery of groceries, food, goods and other services directly to homes.
17. Travel
Airlines, taxis and other private transportation providers necessary for essential activities or essential businesses will continue.
18. Home-based care
19. Residential facilities
Also includes shelters for seniors, adults and children.
20. Professional services
Legal and accounting services will be allowed when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities, according to the order.
21. Childcare facilities
22. Business that cultivate products for personal consumption or use
This allows farming, ranching, livestock, fishing, dairies, creameries, wineries, breweries and associated activities to continue to produce and sell their products, as long as they prohibit public consumption on the premises and to every extent possible, comply with social distancing requirements and “otherwise provide for the health and safety of their employees,” according to the order.
23. Commercial construction
Must be ongoing construction that has already commenced and not just been permitted, as long as social distancing requirements are implemented to whatever extent is feasible and also provide for the health and safety of employees.
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 5:01 AM.
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