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Milwaukee's city-wide 'stay-at-home' order names more than 20 types of essential businesses

Posted at 10:00 PM, Mar 23, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-24 13:09:49-04

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee's city-wide "Stay at Home" order was announced by Mayor Tom Barrett on Monday. It goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday and asks residents to avoid "nonessential" travel in the city in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. .

As of Tuesday morning, there have been 243 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Milwaukee County.

Residents will still be allowed to go outside and enjoy outdoor activities, as long as they practice social distancing of at least 6-feet from each other. The order also said businesses that were not deemed essential would be required to cease operations.

The order names nearly two dozen businesses deemed "essential" and allowed to continue operating during the order.

Essential businesses defined by the city include:

  • Stores that sell groceries and medicine: This includes grocery stores, bakeries, pharmacies, farmers' markets, food banks, convenience stores and other stores that engage in the sale of canned food, dry goods, fruits, pet supply, fresh meats, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and more.
  • Food and beverage production and agriculture: Food and beverage manufacturing, production, processing, cultivation, farming, livestock, fishing, baking and other production agriculture.
  • Organizations that provide charitable and social services: Food banks, shelters and other social services.
  • Media: Newspapers, television, radio and other media services.
  • Gas stations and businesses needed for transportation: Gas stations, auto-supply stores, auto-repair and related facilities.
  • Financial institutions and services: Banks, credit unions, and other financial service providers.
  • Hardware and supply stores: Hardware stores and businesses that sell electrical, plumbing and heating material.
  • Critical trades: Building and construction tradesmen and tradeswomen, plumbers, electricians, exterminators, cleaning and janitorial staff for for commercial and government properties and more.
  • Mail, post, shipping, logistics, delivery and pick-up services: Post offices and other businesses that provide shipping and delivery services.
  • Educational institutions: K-12 public, private and charter schools for non-instructional purposes, college and universities for purposes of facilitating distance learning.
  • Laundry services
  • Bars and restaurants for off-premise consumption
  • Supplies to work from home
  • Supplies for essential businesses and operations: Businesses that sell, manufacture and supply other essential business with the support they need to operate.
  • Transportation: Airlines, taxis, transportation network providers (Uber, Lyft)
  • Home-based care and services: Home-based care for seniors, adults or children
  • Professional services: Legal and accounting services, insurance services, real estate
  • Child care
  • Funeral establishments
  • Hotels and motels
  • Manufacturers, distribution and supply chain for critical products and industries: Companies that produce and supply essential products and services for industries such as pharmaceutical, technology, biotechnology, healthcare, chemicals and sanitization and more.
  • Religious entities: Religious facilities, entities

Read the full order below:

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