Health Commissioner's Order No. 7

Stay Home - Essential Activities Only Order

This Order No. 7 withdraws and replaces previous Health Commissioner Order No. 5 with the restrictions contained herein.   This Order No. 7 shall become effective immediately and shall be effective unless otherwise rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing by me. This Order shall be reviewed from time to time, but no later than mid-May, 2020.

My intent is to ensure that the maximum number of people stay at home to slow the spread of COVID-19. All provisions of this Order shall be interpreted to effectuate this intent.

In all cases, including the exceptions described herein, individuals and businesses must adhere to social distancing recommendations, that includes maintaining at least six-feet social distancing from other individuals.

In no event shall more than 10 people assemble together for a social gathering at any time.

In all cases, individuals and businesses should adhere to preventive recommendations that include washing hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds as frequently as possible or using hand sanitizer, covering coughs or sneezes (into the sleeve or elbow, not hands), regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces, not shaking hands, and staying home if you feel ill.

By the authority vested in me by Article XIII, Section 14-C (c) of the Charter of the City of St. Louis and by 19 CSR 20-20.050 (c) of the Code of State Regulations, I hereby order as follows:

1. Individuals
   All individuals living within the City of St. Louis are ordered to remain at home except as needed for the following activities:
   1. To perform tasks essential to the health and safety of individuals, their family, household members and pets, such as obtaining medical supplies or medication, supplies necessary to maintain safety and sanitation, visiting a health care professional, or obtaining supplies necessary to work from home.  
   2. COVID-19 can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms. In light of this, the City of St. Louis and Centers for Disease Control recommends all individuals wear face coverings (e.g., cloth face coverings, masks) in public settings.
   3. To obtain or deliver food or other necessary supplies.
   4. Outdoor walking or exercise provided they maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any other person.
   5. Going to work wherein allowed.
2. Businesses and Governmental Operations
   All businesses, not-for-profits, and other institutions are allowed to maintain the value of inventory and infrastructure, provide security, process payroll or employee benefits, or facilitate employees working remotely, but are required to cease all other activities.
   
   The following businesses, not-for-profits, institutions, are considered essential and are exempt from requirements listed in the first paragraph of this section; provided such exempt entities must provide staff with personal protective equipment as needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

   1.  Healthcare providers that produce or provide medical care, supplies or medicine, including emergency providers. This provision does not include fitness centers or gyms, massage parlors, salons, barbershops, nail salons or similar establishments.  As used in this Order, “health care provider” and “emergency provider” have the same meaning as those terms are used by the U.S. Department of Labor in a document titled “Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Questions and Answers” website, Item Numbers 56 and 57,https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questionshttps://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions;

   2. Grocery stores and convenience stores;

   3. Restaurants and bars, but only for pickup/curbside/carry-out/take-out/delivery;

   4. Food cultivation and community gardens;

   5. Businesses, not-for-profits, or institutions that ship or deliver groceries, food, or goods;

   6. Businesses, not-for-profits, or institutions that provide food, shelter, utilities, social services, or other necessities;

   7. Food and beverage wholesaling, storage, warehousing, and distribution businesses;

   8. Newspapers, television, radio and other media;

   9. Gas stations, vehicle-supply, vehicle-repair, and related facilities;

   10. Banks and financial institutions;

   11. Hardware stores;

   12.  Businesses, not-for-profits, or institutions providing mailing and shipping services, including post office boxes;

   13. Laundromats and laundry service providers;

   14. Transportation services including rental, taxis and rideshares;

   15. Home-based care for seniors, adults, or children;

   16. Facilities and shelters for adults and children;

   17. Long-term care facilities, including hospice;

   18. Hotels and other commercial lodging;

   19. Professional services (e.g. accountants, lawyers, engineers), but only those employees deemed essential to the provision of such services and who are unable to work from home;

   20. Construction;

   21. Childcare facilities providing services to emergency responders and health care providers;

   22. Manufacture, distribution, and supply chain for exempt businesses, not-for-profits, or institutions;

   23. Federal, state, and local government, but only those local government employees deemed essential to the provision of such essential services and who are unable to work from home.

   24. Such other exceptions as I may specifically designate.

So ordered:

Date: 4/16/2020

Fredrick Echols, MD
Director of Health & Hospitals/Health Commissioner