Essential vs. Non-Essential Business Operations under Ohio’s Stay at Home Order

Effective on March 23rd, 2020 at 11:59pm, Ohio will be under a Stay at Home order until April 6th.

With this order, individuals are ordered to stay at home and non-essential business and operations must cease during this two-week period. For non-essential businesses and operations, only the minimum basic operations, as later defined may continue as needed.

All essential businesses and operations, as summarized below, are encouraged to remain open:

  • Healthcare and Public Health Operations
  • Human Services Operations
  • Essential Infrastructure
  • Essential Government Functions
  • CISA List
  • Stores that sell groceries and medicine
  • Food, beverage and licensed marijuana production and agriculture
  • Organizations that provide charitable and social services
  • Religious entities
  • Media
  • First amendment protected speech
  • Gas stations and businesses needed for transportation
  • Financial and insurance institutions
  • Hardware and supply stores
  • Critical trades
  • Mail, post, shipping, logistics, delivery and pick-up services
  • Educational institutions
  • Laundry services
  • Restaurants for consumption off-premises
  • Supplies to work from home
  • Supplies for Essential Businesses and Operations
  • Transportation
  • Home-based care and services
  • Residential facilities and shelters
  • Professional services
  • Manufacture, distribution and supply chain for critical products and industries
  • Critical labor union functions
  • Hotels and motels
  • Funeral services

For non-essential businesses, minimum basic operations may continue for the following purposes:

  • To maintain the value of the businesses inventory, preserve the condition of the physical plant and equipment, ensure security, process payroll and other employee benefits, or related functions.
  • To facilitate employees of the business to be able to continue working remotely from their residences if possible.

Please contact our offices if you have any questions. Other resources are available below:

To read the full order for additional details, please visit:https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/home/public-health-orders/directors-order-to-stay-at-home

For employees who are unable to work, unemployment benefits may be available. Please visit the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services website to apply online and read the FAQs. http://jfs.ohio.gov/ouio/CoronavirusAndUI.stm