Austin's Shelter In Place Order - I Read It So You Don't Have To
Shelter In Place… Stay At Home… what does that mean for you? Well, I’ve read the 15 pages of the Stay at Home order so you don’t have to.
Some of the important questions:
Grocery stores open? Yes!
Restaurants open? Yes! [Carryout & Delivery]
Liquor Stores open? Yes!
Banks open? Yes!
Can I leave my house? Yes!… For essential activities only (I specify below) and if you don’t have the signs or symptoms of COVID-19
When will this end? As of now, the date is April 13, but that could change to be longer or shorter.
So, let me do some thorough explaining of this “Stay at Home or Place of Residence” order.
Sounds scary, right? Well, let’s not panic, let’s just be AWARE and compliant.
Austin’s Stay at Home order is effective as of 11:59pm on March 24, 2020 through to April 13, 2020 unless terminated or modified by a subsequent order.
This order comes from the Mayor of Austin, Steve Adler, who is making this decision after Declarations of Local and State have been made, due to the risk of harm to the public from COVID-19 (also known as Coronavirus).
I am certain you have heard all about this virus, but in case you do not know the signs and symptoms, please take the time to read this from Johns Hopkins: Johns Hopkins | Coronavirus Guide. It’s important that we are being thorough in hand washing, avoiding touching our face, and engaging in social distancing if needed to leave your home.
Speaking of leaving your home, you may only do so to perform certain Essential Activities, to perform work in or obtain services from an Essential Business, Essential Government Service, or in Critical Infrastructure (EB/EGS/CI), or to engage in Essential Travel or Minimum Basic Operations.
When you are out and about, all individuals using shared or outdoor spaces, need to abide by social distancing of at least six feet from any other person.
Non-Essential Businesses
All activities being performed inside of the workplace, of a non-essential business, has to halt and move home. If employees cannot perform their duties from home, then that business cannot continue to operate.
No public or private gatherings of any number outside of a home are allowed but this doesn’t prohibit the gathering of members of a household.
All travel (on foot, bicycle, motorcycle, automobile, or public transit) is no longer allowed unless it is related to traveling to work or performing essential activities.
Essential Activities
Individuals may leave their residence only to perform the following:
If you are sick, COVID-19 present, at high risk of severe illness, and/or immunocompromised, please stay in your home unless it is to seek necessary medical care.
For Health and Safety - Tasks essential to the individual or individual’s family’s health.
For Necessary Supplies & Services - Obtaining necessary service or supplies for the individual and their family, or to deliver those services and supplies to others. These items include: “groceries and food, including pet supplies and food, supplies they need to work from home, household consumer products, and products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences.” (*)
For Outdoor Activity - Individuals can engage in outdoor activity, for example, walking, hiking, bicycling, or running (with social distancing).
For Certain Types of Work - Individuals working to provide essential products and services at an EB/EGS/CI.
To Take Care of Others - Individuals caring for family members or pets in another household.
Essential Businesses
The establishments that will be allowed to be open during this order include:
Healthcare Operations,
Grocers & Other Essential Supplies,
Food Cultivation,
Social Services & Charities,
News Media,
Gas Stations & Transportation,
Financial Institution,
Hardware & Supply Stores,
Critical Trades,
Mail & Delivery Services,
Laundry Services,
Restaurants for Consumption Off-Premises,
Supplies to Work from Home,
Supplies for EB/EGS/CI Functions,
Food Delivery Services,
Transportation,
Home-Based Care & Services,
Residential Facilities & Shelters,
Professional Services,
Information Technology Services,
Moving Supply Services,
Hotels & Motels,
Funeral Services,
Educational Institutions,
and Childcare Facilities
Below are more specifics on the above essential businesses in order to help you understand what is closed during this time:
Healthcare Operations - Healthcare facilities including caregivers, hospital & laboratory personnel, pharmacy employees, workers from hospitals, clinics, dentists, pharmacies, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, healthcare suppliers, home healthcare services providers, mental health providers, and related retail sales. This also includes veterinary care and life-saving services for animals. This does not include fitness gyms or retailers specializing in selling e-cigs or CBD products.
Grocers & Other Essential Supplies - Grocery stores, supermarkets, farmers’ markets, convenience stores, liquor stores, food banks, and other vendors selling dry goods, canned foods, fresh fruits + vegetables, fresh meats, fish, poultry, pet supplies, cleaning products, personal care products.
Food Cultivation - “Farming, livestock, and fishing” (*)
Social Services & Charities - Businesses providing food, shelter, and social services, and necessities of life for the disadvantaged.
News Media - TV, radio, newspapers, and other news media.
Gas Stations & Transportation - Gas stations, car dealerships, auto-repair, auto-manufacturing and assembly, and other related businesses.
Financial Institutions - “Banks and related financial institutions, consumer lenders, sales and finance lenders, credit unions, appraisers, title companies, pawnshops, entities that issue bonds, insurance companies, underwriters, agents, brokers, and related insurance claims and agents.” (*)
Hardware & Supply Stores - Stores selling plumbing, electrical, and other materials
Critical Trades - Plumbers, exterminators, pool cleaners, electricians, and other trades necessary to maintain sanitation, safety, essential operation of homes, essential activities, utilities such as gas, electricity, water, wastewater.
Mail & Delivery Services - Mailing, shipping, and post office boxes.
Laundry Services - Dry cleaners, laundromats, and laundry services.
Restaurants for Consumption Off-Premises - Restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food but only for delivery or carry out. “Schools and other entities that typically provide free food services 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.” (*)
Supplies to Work from Home
Supplies for Essential Businesses, Critical Infrastructure, & Essential Government Functions - Supplies such as audio & video electronics, computers, microelectronics, semiconductors, hardware, electrical & plumbing material, sanitary equipment, paint, medical equipment, and food & beverages.
Food Delivery Services - “Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods + services directly to residences” (*)
Transportation - “Aircraft, taxis, and private transportation providers” (i.e. Uber & Lyft) “that provide transportation services necessary for the performance of essential activities, Essential Businesses, Critical Infrastructure, Essential Government Functions, or Essential Travel.” (*)
Home-Based Care & Services - “Home-based care for seniors, adults, or children, including caregivers who may travel to provide care” (*)
Residential Facilities & Shelters - “Residential facilities and shelters for seniors, adults, children, and animals.” (*)
Professional Services - Legal services, accounting services, real estate services, insurance services, “when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities…” (*)
Information Technology Services - “IT and IT services and their essential services vendors, including the provision of essential global, national, and local infrastructure for computing services, business infrastructure, communications, web-based services, and critical manufacturing as well as telecommunications services, internet access, and broadband/communications services.” (*)
Moving Supply Services - Residential and/or commercial moving businesses.
Hotels & Motels - “To the extent used for lodging, delivery or carry-out food services.” (*)
Funeral Services - “Funeral, mortuary, cremation, burial, cemetery, and related services provided that social distancing… is maintained.” (*)
Educational Institutions - “Public & private K-12 schools, colleges, and universities - for purposes of facilitating distance learning, performing critical research, or performing other essential functions, provided that social distancing… is maintained.” (*)
Childcare Facilities - Childcare facilities are open but only operating where:
1. Childcare is in consistent groups of 10 or less.
2. The children in the group will not change in groups.
3. Each group will be in separate rooms if more than one group.
4. The providers will stay with their consistent group.
Essential Travel
The traveling below is allowed:
“Any travel related to the provision of or access to Essential Activities, Essential Governmental Functions, Essential Businesses, Critical Infrastructure, or Minimum Basic Operations;
Travel to care for the elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons'';
Travel to or from educational institutions for purposes of receiving materials for distance learning, for receiving meals, or any other related services;
Travel to return from or to a place of residence from outside the jurisdiction;
Travel required by law enforcement or court order
Travel by church staff/clergy for the purpose producing of remote delivery of religious services or other ministries requiring travel; or
Travel required for non-residents to return to their place of residence outside the City. Individuals are strongly encouraged to verify that their transportation out of the City remains available and functional prior to commencing such travel. “ (*)
Minimum Basic Operations
Lastly, travel is allowed for “Minimum Basic Operations” as well, which includes:
“The minimum necessary activities to maintain the value of the business’s inventory, ensure security, process payroll, and employee benefits, or for related functions; or
The minimum necessary activities to facilitate employees of the business being able to continue to work remotely from their residences.” (*)
Violation
If one violates the orders, then the police officers, City of Austin Department Inspectors, and Fire Marshal have the authority to punish the offender(s) through criminal or civil enforcement. “A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days. A violation of this order may be enforced by the filing of a probable cause affidavit alleging the criminal violation with the appropriate court or by issuing a citation to the person violating, that contains written notice of the time and place the person must appear before a magistrate of this state, the name, and address of the person charged, and the offense charged.” (*)
Resources
With this news, it is putting a lot of service industry professionals jobs in danger and I put together a post last week
where I offer any resources that I find online in order to help service industry workers, unemployed Austinites, parents struggling to get by, and local businesses that are feeling the pain of this huge change.
Lastly, I want to provide the PDF for the actual order so if you would like to read it, you can! Everything I reference with a “*” is verbatim from the order.
Stay safe, stay smart, and stay away from others as much as possible!
Please keep our city safe, support our local businesses, and KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD!
Cheers!
Credit: Lisa Hause Photography
