The definition of “essential business or operation” in the state of Mississippi follows Executive 1463, which Gov. Tate Reeves signed into effect last Tuesday.
Here’s a list of businesses and operations deemed essential under the order:
■ Government: law enforcement, first responders, courts, military, emergency management, corrections, child welfare, 911 call center, and more;
■ Health care and medicine: hospitals, clinics, research and lab operations, elderly care facilities (nursing homes, assisted living facilities, etc), pharmacies, home health workers, medical supply manufacturers and providers, medical and hazardous waste disposal, and more;
■ Transportation and lodging: taxi and ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft, automotive sales and repair, vehicle rental services, airports, hotels and commercial lodging services, and more;
■ Retail: supermarkets, food and beverage stores, food providers, convenience stores, pharmacies, hardware and building materials, gas stations, restaurants or bars with gatherings of no more than 10 people and offering curbside pickup, delivery or take-out services, and more;
■ Essential Services: trash collection, mail and shipping services, home repair, warehouse, distribution and fulfillment centers, laundromats/laundry service;
■ Media: newspapers, digital news, television, radio, and more;
■ Agriculture and food: food processing and production, food additives, livestock, cattle, poultry and seafood operations, livestock auctions, farmer’s markets, and more;
■ Education: public and private K-12 schools, colleges and universities, other educational institutions, transportation services providing free or reduced meals to students, and more;
■ Basic services for the economically disadvantaged: food banks, foster care, homeless shelters, congregate care facilities, religious and secular non-profit organizations and businesses that offer similar services, and more;
■ Religious entities: religious and faith-based facilities, entities and groups, religious gatherings under the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state executive orders;
■ Infrastructure: power generation, nuclear facilities, utility poles and components, fuel and transmission, petroleum producers, suppliers and distributors, electronic security and life safety services, data centers, cyberspace operations, flood control, operation of dams, aviation and airports, ports, roads and highways, mass transit, vehicle rental services, freight and passenger rail, hazardous waste disposal, hotels and commercial lodging services;
■ Manufacturing: medical and food supplies, lumber and paper products, technology, biotechnology, chemical products, telecommunications products, automotive production and suppliers, energy, steel and steel products, fuel and petroleum exploration and production, lubricants, greases and engine oils, mining, national defense, sanitary and cleaning products, household products, personal care products, products used by other essential businesses and operations, and more;
■ Financial services: banks and related financial institutions, insurance, payroll, accounting, processing financial transactions, services related to financial markets;
■ Other professional services: legal services, accounting services, insurance services, real estate services (including appraisal and title services);
■ Construction: lumber, building materials and hardware, electricians, plumbers, exterminators, cleaning and janitorial, HVACR and water heating industry, painting, moving and relocating services, other skilled trades, and more;
■ Defense and national security: employees working for companies and their subcontractors to provide services or materials under the contract to the Department of Defense, and more.
For a full list of essential businesses and operations, visit msema.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Executive-Order-1463.pdf
Yue Stella Yu was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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