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Vedder Thinking | Articles Essential Business Orders in Wake of COVID-19 Concerns

Newsletter/Bulletin

Reader View

Over the last several days, Governors in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey and Connecticut have issued similar Executive Orders directing all workers at "non-essential" or "not critical" businesses in their states to stay at home for varying periods of time. The orders, which have all gone or will go into effect by Sunday night, March 22, 2020, extend from two weeks to four weeks depending on the state, with more states likely to follow. In each case, the Governors are focused on taming the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

These orders are creating confusion across the United States because they are similar but all different to varying degrees. They rely on different definitions--some like California and Connecticut rely on 16 critical infrastructure sectors as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, while the others create their own standards. The issue is further complicated by local counties and cities such as Los Angeles County adopting different standards that do not necessarily sync up with the California Governor's order. Businesses all over America are trying to determine if they and their own suppliers are critical parts of the supply chain of essential or critical businesses like food, personal and cleaning products (e.g., Costco, WalMart, Walgreen's and grocery stores), healthcare (e.g., hospitals, doctor's offices and licensed medical facilities) and defense so they can continue to operate. Letters are being provided by essential and critical businesses to vendors and contractors in their supply chain to ensure the continued movement of goods, products and services. Others are obtaining certifications from governmental entities though the Orders do not require any specific certifications.

If your business is deemed non-critical or non-essential and you can't operate via employees remotely at home, you will be closed for all practical purposes in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey and Connecticut. Some uniform examples are retail stores in indoor malls, nail salons, health clubs and dine-in restaurants.

All of these Orders are being issued in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak and have guidance for employers on required postings and certain policies to assure as safe a workplace as possible. Similar to the Orders themselves, this guidance is not uniform. Employers also need to make decisions on how to notify employees that they are continuing to operate and to help them with assurances that they can get to work.

The Vedder Price team is available at any time to help in this challenging moment. We want to help keep America moving. You have full access to our resources across all issues ranging from helping you determine if your business is in the chain of critical and essential businesses, to lease and contractual matters, to employee matters amidst the quickly evolving laws being passed to address the crisis. We have practical content on our C19 dedicated web site that is being updated daily with useful and important information as the landscape shifts so please feel free to share with your teams.

Please stay tuned for further information coming from us on the small business rescue package currently being worked on in Washington, DC. We will provide relevant information and how to access the loan program as soon as possible.

Please email us or call if you need anything. Stay well and safe!




Professionals



Michael A. Nemeroff

President and CEO



Amy L. Bess

Shareholder



Thomas G. Hancuch

Shareholder



Jeanah Park

Shareholder



Patrick W. Spangler

Shareholder

Executive Order by State

Alaska:

How is DHSS responding to COVID-19?

Arizona:

“Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected”

California:

Stay home except for essential needs

Colorado: 

Stay home except for essential needs

Connecticut: 

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

Delaware:

Suspension of Non-Essential In-Person Business Operations

Hawaii:

COVID-19 Daily Update March 23, 2020

Idaho:

Governor Little issues statewide stay-home order, signs extreme emergency declaration

Illinois: 

Gov. Pritzker Announces Statewide Stay At Home Order to Maximize COVID-19 Containment, Ensure Health Care System Remains Fully Operational 

Indiana: 

Indiana Stay-At-Home Order FAQ

Kansas:

Governor Kelly issues temporary, statewide Stay Home order in ongoing effort to combat COVID-19

Louisiana:

Gov. Edwards Issues Statewide Stay at Home Order to Further Fight the Spread of COVID-19 in Louisiana

Maine:

Governor Mills Issues Stay Healthy at Home Mandate

Maryland: 

The Hogan Administration’s COVID-19 Response

Massachusetts:

Governor Charlie Baker Orders All Non-Essential Businesses To Cease In Person Operation, Directs the Department of Public Health to Issue Stay at Home Advisory For Two Weeks

Michigan: 

Governor Whitmer Signs "Stay Home, Stay Safe" Executive Order

Minnesota:

Governor Phil Scott Issues a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Order, Directs Additional Closures

Mississippi:

Executive Order No. 1466

Montana:

Novel Coronavirus

Nevada:

Emergency Orders

New Hampshire:

State of New Hampshire by His Excellency Christopher T. Sununu, Governor

New Jersey: 

How do Executive Orders No. 107 and 108 on closures and social distancing affect my business?

New Mexico:

State enacts further restrictions to stop spread, including stay-at-home instruction

New York:

Guidance For Determining Whether A Business Enterprise Is Subject To A Workforce Reduction Under Executive Order 202.6

North Carolina:

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Response in North Carolina

Ohio:

COVID-19

Oregon:

Executive Order: Stay Home Except for Essential Needs

Pennsylvania:

Non-Life-Sustaining Businesses

Rhode Island:

STAYING AT HOME, REDUCING GATHERINGS, CERTAIN RETAIL BUSINESS CLOSURES AND FURTHER QUARANTINE PROVISIONS

Vermont:

COVID-19 Response and Preparation

Virginia:

TEMPORARY STAY AT HOME ORDERDUE TO NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

Washington:

Inslee announces "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order 

Washington, DC:

Closure of Non-Essentials Businesses

West Virginia: 

Governor Issues Stay-At-Home Order

Wisconsin: 

Gov. Evers Directs DHS to Issue Safer at Home Order