Mecklenburg County issued a stay-at-home order. Here is what you can and can’t do
Mecklenburg County citizens have been ordered to stay at home, effective 8 a.m. Thursday through April 16, county manager Dena Diorio said Tuesday, in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic. It will be a potential misdemeanor for violating these rules.
You may have questions regarding how this affects what you can and can’t do. We’re here to answer those.
How is a stay-at-home order different than shelter-in-place?
Under local ordinance, “shelter in place” forces people to stay in their current building during a nuclear accident. This is being called “stay at home” so as not to invoke that specific part of the “shelter in place” order.
You can still leave your home to ...
▪ Buy groceries. Grocery stores will remain open.
▪ Pick up prescriptions and other medical supplies. This includes prescriptions for your pets.
▪ Order and pick up takeout food. This includes drive-through windows.
▪ Care for family members and help others get needed supplies.
▪ Exercise outdoors. Whether it’s walking, hiking, running, etc., you’re still allowed to stay active, so long as you practice social distancing. That means keeping a six-foot distance from others. (While parks are open, playgrounds are closed.)
▪ Go golfing. Yes, you’re still able to hit the links during this stay-at-home order. Many courses have already started taking protective measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
▪ Go to work if your job is considered an essential service.
▪ Be helpful. You can go out and get supplies for someone who is unable to do so.
▪ Visit a bank. Financial institutions can remain open.
▪ Visit the post office. Along with other businesses that deliver goods.
▪ Use a laundromat, dry cleaner and other laundry services.
▪ Use gas stations and auto-repair and auto-supply businesses.
▪ Child care. Day care centers can stay open, but only to children of parents who work in “essential” job fields such as healthcare, public safety and others mentioned under the order.
What isn’t allowed...
▪ Leaving your home for work unless your job provides a defined list of essential services. Generally, the exceptions include healthcare services, human services, essential government functions, journalists and essential infrastructure.
▪ Public or private gatherings of 10 or more people (does not apply to members of a household or residence). This supercedes a prior restriction on gatherings of 50 or more.
▪ Visiting family and friends, including those in hospitals except under limited circumstances.
▪ Traveling, unless for permitted reasons.
What kind of business are considered essential?
▪ Government workers, including first responders, emergency management, law enforcement and corrections personnel, military and other functions considered essential.
▪ Media, including newspapers, television and radio.
▪ Gas stations, auto repair, bicycle repair, auto-parts stores.
▪ Financial institutions, including banks, consumer lenders and credit unions.
▪ Hardware stores, and those distributing plumbing, electrical and heating material.
▪ Critical trades, such as construction, and including plumbers, electricians, exterminators and janitors.
▪ Mail, and other shipping and delivery businesses.
▪ Educational institutions, both K-12 and colleges and universities, to facilitate distance learning and critical research related to COVID-19. With an expectation of social distancing.
▪ Laundry services, including laundromats and dry cleaners.
▪ Restaurants, for takeout or delivery.
▪ Supplies to work from home.
▪ Home-based care, including adults, children seniors and the disabled.
▪ Residential facilities and shelters.
▪ Professional services, such as legal, accounting, insurance and real estate. Real estate services are restricted to appraisal and title services.
▪ Hotels and motels.
▪ Funeral services.
▪ Wireless provider retail stores.
What happens if I violate the stay-at-home order?
According to the county, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is trying to enforce the stay-at-home order through education, dialogue and cooperation. As long as you voluntarily cooperate, you should be fine. Violation of this order is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
This story is developing and will be updated.
This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 3:27 PM.