Madison Park

Friend,

Today, Mecklenburg County issued a "Stay at Home" order.

It goes into effect this Thursday at 8:00 a.m. and will stay in effect until at least April 16 at midnight.

The County Manager said this was necessary because Mecklenburg has seen a dramatic rise in coronavirus cases. We now have roughly 25% of the state total and roughly 20% of those cases have required hospitalization. Community spread is occurring and social distancing encouragement was insufficient to stop the spread of the virus.

From the language of the order, here are the essential pieces.

YOU CAN

• Go to the grocery, convenience or warehouse store

• Go to the pharmacy to pick up medications and other healthcare necessities

• Visiting a health care professional for medical services that cannot be provided virtually (call first)

• Go to a restaurant for take-out, delivery or drive-thru

• Care for or support a friend or family member

• Take a walk, ride your bike, hike, jog and be in nature for exercise – just keep at least six feet between you and others

• Walk your pets and take them to veterinarian if necessary

• Help someone to get necessary supplies

• Receive deliveries from any business which delivers

YOU SHOULD NOT

• Go to work unless you are providing essential services as defined by this Order

• Visit friends and family if there is no urgent need

• Maintain less than 6 feet of distance from others when you go out

• Visit loved ones in the hospital, nursing home, skilled nursing facility or other residential care facility, except for limited exceptions as provided on the facility websites

• Travel except for essential travel and activities

Businesses and types of work are considered essential:

• Healthcare, public health, law enforcement, public safety and first responders

• Food, beverages, and agriculture (manufacturing, production, processing, cultivation including farming, livestock, fishing, baking, distribution of animals and good for consumption, providing food, shelter, and other necessities for animals)
 

• Stores that sell groceries and medicine
 

• Organizations that provide charitable and social services (businesses and religious and secular nonprofit organizations including food banks, when providing food and shelter, social services, and other necessities for life for economically disadvantaged or needy individuals, individuals who need assistance, and people with disabilities).
 

• Energy
 

• Water and wastewater
 

• Transportation and logistics
 

• Public works
 

• Communication and information technology
 

• Media
 

• Gas stations and businesses needed for transportation (gas stations and auto-supply, auto-repair, and related facilities and bicycle shops and related facilities)
 

• Financial institutions (banks, currency exchange, consumer lenders, including but not limited, to payday lenders, pawnbrokers, consumer installment lenders and sales finance lenders, credit unions, appraisers, title companies, financial markets, trading and future exchanges, affiliates of financial institutions, entities that issue bonds, related financial institutions, and institutions selling financial products)
 

• Hardware and supply stores
 

• Critical trades (building and construction – plumbers, electricians, exterminators, cleaning and janitorial staff for commercial and governmental properties, security staff, operating engineers, HVAC, painting, moving and relocation services, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences, essential activities, and essential businesses)
 

• Mail, post, shipping, logistics, delivery, and pick-up services (post offices and other businesses that provide shipping and delivery services, businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods or services to end users or through commercial channels)
 

• Laundry services
 

• Restaurants for consumption off-premises (in-house delivery, third-party deliver, drive-through, curbside pick-up, and carry-out)
 

• Supplies to work from home
 

• Supplies for essential businesses and operations (see #14 in the order for details)

• Transportation (airlines, taxis, public transportation, vehicle rental, logistics)
 

• Home-based care and services (home-based care for adults, seniors, children, people with disabilities)
 

• Residential facilities and shelters
 

• Professional services (legal, accounting, insurance, real estate, restricted to appraisal and title services)
 

• Childcare centers (for specific employees – first responders, healthcare workers, public health, etc)
 

• Manufacture, distribution, and supply chain (see #20 for details)
 

• Hotels and motels
 

• Funeral services
 

• Other community-based government operations and essential functions including human services
 

• Other community-based human service operations
 

• Critical manufacturing
 

• Hazardous materials