What Does Shelter In Place Mean?

Here's what shelter in place means: Stay home and only leave for "essential activities" or "essential travel." The counties' health order describes the items below as essential travel, essential activities:

• Tasks essential to your family's health and safety, including your pets
• Getting necessary services and supplies, including groceries, prescriptions
• Delivering such goods to family members or other
• Going to appointments or obtaining services at any healthcare facility, including veterinary care (but not gyms)
• Travel to care for elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons. Including pets
• Travel to educational institutions to receive materials for distance learning or meals and other related services
• Travel related to providing or accessing services exempted in the order

Note, it is OK and healthy to go outside to engage in outdoor activities like walking or running, as long as you and your family can avoid coming into close contact with others.

Other important points:

• All gatherings of any number are prohibited except as needed to carry out essential activities, maintain operation of essential businesses, or for essential governmental functions.
• All first responders, law enforcement personnel and those performing essential governmental functions are exempt from the Order.
• This Order does not apply to the operations of federal and state agencies, including airports.
• Public transit remains open to allow people to engage in "essential travel."
• Each local governmental entity shall identify which employees are needed to continue providing essential governmental functions.

Exemptions in the Health Order

Essential businesses include:

• Healthcare operations  
• Grocery stores (including stores like Target that sell both grocery and non-grocery items)
• Pharmacies and healthcare supply stores
• Gas stations, auto supply and repair
• Banks and financial institutions
• Hardware stores, plumbers, electricians, exterminators and other services to maintain safety and sanitation and essential operations of homes and businesses
• Educational institutions for purposes of facilitating distance learning
• Laundromats and dry cleaners
• Restaurants and prepared food facilities, but only for delivery or carry out (no table service)
• Airlines, taxis, and other private transportation providers for essential activities

Businesses that supply other businesses providing products or services exempted in the Health Order

• Shipping and mailing services including PO boxes
• Businesses that deliver goods and services directly to residences
• Childcare facilities to enable employees exempted in the Order to work
• Home-based care and residential facilities for seniors, adults, children
• Essential governmental functions and essential infrastructure
• Newspapers, TV, and other media