City of Jackson Mayor Scott Conger and Madison County Mayor Jimmy Harris issued another executive order Wednesday afternoon, this time strongly encouraging people to stay at home if possible. Both mayors said the order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.
The mayors, during a Wednesday afternoon media briefing, reiterated that residents should be practicing social distancing if they do decide to leave their residence and only going out if absolutely necessary.
Below are the new policies, as outlined in both executive orders for the city and the county:
1.) Safer at Home. All individuals currently living within the City and County are strongly advised to stay at their place of residence unless engaged in Essential Activities as outlined in this Order. For purposes of this Order, residences include, but are not limited to, hotels, motels, shared rental units, and similar facilities. To the extent individuals are using shared or outdoor spaces, they must at all times, as reasonably possible, maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any other person when they are outside their residence. All persons are strongly advised to leave their residences only for Essential Activities, Essential Governmental Functions, or to operate Essential Businesses as defined in this Order.
Individuals experiencing homelessness are exempt from this section, but are strongly urged to seek safe shelter.
2.) All individuals should only travel for essential activities or participate in activities that follow social distancing guidelines.
3.) Mass Gatherings Prohibited. All public and private gatherings of more than ten people occurring outside a single household or living unit (including churches) are prohibited, except for the limited purposes as expressly permitted by this Order. Nothing in this Order prohibits the gathering of members of a household or living unit.
4.) Non-Essential Businesses.
Both essential and non-essential businesses not specifically listed as closed by executive order #6 are required to practice social distancing, clean and make reasonable efforts to stop groups of 10 or more.
For clarity, businesses may continue operations consisting exclusively of employees or contractors performing activities at their own residences (i.e., working from home). All Essential Businesses are strongly encouraged to remain open.
To the greatest extent feasible, all business not closed in order #6 shall comply with Social Distancing Requirements as defined in this Order, including by maintaining six-foot social distancing for both employees and members of the public, including, but not limited to, when any customers are standing in line.
5.) Essential Activities. For purposes of this Order, the following are considered “Essential Activities.”
- To engage in activities or perform tasks essential to their health and safety, or to the health and safety of their family or household members (including, but not limited to, pets), such as, by way of example only and without limitation, obtaining medical supplies or medication, visiting a health care professional, or obtaining supplies they need to work from home.
- To obtain necessary services or supplies for themselves and their family or household members, or to deliver those services or supplies to others.
- To engage in outdoor activity, provided the individuals comply with Social Distancing Requirements as defined in this Order, such as, by way of example and without limitation, walking, hiking, dog walking, or running.
- To perform work providing essential products and services at an Essential Business or to otherwise carry out activities specifically permitted in this Order, including Minimum Basic Operations.
- To perform payroll and other critical administrative functions for any business, including businesses not defined as essential.
- To care for a family member or pet in another household.
Activities that can be executed with groups of less than 10 people while maintaining social distancing
6.) Essential Businesses. For the purposes of this Order, “Essential Businesses” means:
- Healthcare Operations and Essential Infrastructure as defined in this Order; including hospitals, pharmacies, walk-in care facilities, elder care, blood banks, research and laboratory services, dental, medical and wholesale distribution, home health care workers or aides for the elderly, nursing homes or residential healthcare facilities, optometrists, medical supplies and equipment manufacturers and providers
- Essential retail including grocery and beverage stores, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, food banks, convenience stores, gas stations, restaurants (only for take-out/delivery) catering, package stores, hardware and building material stores, cell phone and electronics, taxis, private transportation, bicycle retail/repair, real estate agent services, home or building cleaning and maintenance, lawn care, locksmiths, legal services, alarm and security companies, businesses that provide services that are necessary to maintain the sanitation, safety, and essential operation of residences and businesses, office supply stores, Businesses that provide goods and services exclusively deliver through curbside pickup, drive-thru, shipment or delivery, or maintain social distancing requirements. This includes stores that sell groceries and also sell other non-grocery products, and products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences;
- Essential infrastructure including utilities, fuel supply, public water, wastewater, telecommunications and data centers, airports, hotels and places of accommodation, transportation
- Manufacturing/Distribution
- Financial institutions including banks, insurance, payroll, accounting, services related to financial markets
- Veterinary and livestock services including farming
- Essential services including trash and recycling and processing and disposal related to this, mail and shipping services, laundromats, building and cleaning maintenance, child care services, auto repair and servicing, warehouse/distribution and fulfillment, funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries, storage and animal shelters
- Skilled trades such as electricians, HVAC, plumbers, construction, property management, planning engineering design firms and pest control.
- Providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged populations including but not limited to homeless shelters, food banks, human resources providers
7.) The following businesses are closed- cafeterias, the dine-in portion of restaurants, food courts, movie theaters, gyms, country clubs (excluding outdoor activities), concert venues, nightclubs, bars, indoor malls, hair salons, nail salons, massage parlors, tanning salons and tattoo parlors.
All retail stores not identified as essential and not providing curbside, pickup or delivery services shall close.
8.) This Order does not prohibit an employee, contractor, vendor, or supplier of subject establishments from entering, exiting, using, or occupying that establishment in their professional capacity.
9.) All Funerals, Celebrations of Life, Cremation Services, and Memorial Services should only be attended by close family OR less than 10 people per venue in accordance with Governor Bill Lee’s Executive Order fi17
10.)The Jackson Police Department is authorized to enforce and close those businesses not in compliance of Governor Lee’s Executive Order #17 or this Order.
11.)Nothing in this Order shall be construed to limit, prohibit, or restrict in any way the provision of health care or medical services to members of the public.
12.)Nothing in this Order shall be construed to limit, prohibit, or restrict in any way access to essential services for low-income residents, including but not limited to food banks.
13.)Nothing in this Order shall be construed to limit, prohibit, or restrict in any way the operations of newspapers, television, radio, and other media services.
14.) Nothing in this Order shall be construed to limit, prohibit, or restrict in any way the operations of law enforcement agencies.
15.)Nothing in this Order shall be construed to limit, prohibit, or restrict in any way the operations of manufacturing or critical infrastructure sectors as defined by the Department of Homeland Security. -chemical, critical manufacturing, dams, defense industrial base, emergency services, energy, financial services, food and agriculture, government facilities, healthcare and public health, information technology, nuclear reactors materials and waste, transportation, waste and wastewater, childcare programs and services, auto repair, warehouse distribution and fulfillment, animal shelters, news media, banks, insurance, payroll, accounting services, services related to the financial market, food banks, skilled trades such as electricians and plumbers, construction firms and professionals, law enforcement, fire prevention and response, building code enforcement, security, emergency management and response, building cleaners or janitors, disinfection, logistics, technology support and essential government services.
16.)Nothing in this Order shall be construed to limit, prohibit, or restrict in any way the operations of Child Care Facilities. They should continue to follow guidelines provided by the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
17.)The operative paragraphs of Executive Order No. 2020-01 are hereby superseded in full
18.)AIl of these changes take effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, March 26, 2020.
19.)This Order shall remain in effect until withdrawn, and supersedes previous orders.