What are essential services and jobs during the coronavirus crisis?
As cities across the U.S. tighten quarantine and other restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus, one word keeps popping up concerning the services, jobs and activities permitted to continue: “essential.”
“I will sign an Executive Order mandating that 100% of [the] workforce must stay home, excluding essential services,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) tweeted Friday. Early in the week, San Francisco officials announced that even non-vulnerable people were “required to stay home except to get food, care for a relative or friend, get necessary health care, or go to an essential job.” On Thursday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) issued a statewide stay-at-home order, asking residents to leave their homes only when necessary.
But what is considered an essential job or service? Here at HuffPost, we’ve been asked about laundromats (yes) and hardware stores (yes). Although the list may vary according to local concerns and the nature of a given event, disaster or pandemic, here is a general idea of what’s considered “essential” in emergencies, according to various governments, including San Francisco, Miami, New York state and Miami-Dade County:
Gas stations, auto supply stores, auto repair shops and related facilities
Pharmacies
Grocery stores, farmers markets, food banks and convenience stores
Liquor stores
Restaurants (only for delivery, takeout and drive-thru)
Hardware stores and plumbers
Contractors and other tradesmen, appliance repair personnel
Exterminators and other service providers
Landscape and pool care businesses, including residential landscape and pool care
Construction sites and engineering and architecture firms
Banks and related financial institutions including insurance and accounting services
Phone and computer sellers
Community benefit organizations on a case-by-case basis
Laundromats, dry cleaners and laundry service providers
Healthcare providers, hospitals, clinics and healthcare operations including research and laboratory services, medical wholesale and distribution, and dentists
Businesses that provide shelter and/or social services
Newspapers, television, radio and other media outlets
Businesses offering mailing and shipping services, including post office boxes
Airlines, taxis and other private transportation providers
Home-based care for seniors, adults or children
Assisted living facilities, nursing homes, adult day care centers and senior facilities
Pet supply stores
Police stations
Fire stations
Building code enforcement
Jails
Courts
Garbage/sanitation and recycling services
Public transportation (Muni, BART, subways)
Utilities (water, power and gas, telecommunications)
Certain city, county, state and federal offices
Funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries
Maintenance staff, cleaners, janitors and doormen
Manufacturing including food processing, chemical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, paper products, safety and sanitary products
Related: Retailers temporarily closing physical locations amid coronavirus outbreak