STAYING AT HOME IS NO LONGER AN OPTION – IT IS A REQUIREMENT
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed Executive Order 23 requiring you to stay home unless you are carrying out “essential activities.” You may only leave your home for essential activities such as purchasing food, obtaining medical care, to go to work at an essential business, and/or go outside to get fresh air or exercise.
Order 23 will be enforced by way of instructing law enforcement throughout Tennessee to issue verbal warnings and/or citations to stay-at-home violators. If a non-essential business does not close during this Order, they can be reported to local law enforcement.
Essential activities include:
- Engaging in activities essential to an individual’s health and safety or the health and safety of family or household members, persons who are unable or should not leave their home, or pets, including, but not limited to, seeking emergency services, obtaining medical supplies or assistance, obtaining medication, obtaining non-elective medical care or treatment or other similar vital services, or visiting a health care professional;
- Obtaining necessary services or supplies for persons and their family or household members, persons who are unable or should not leave their home, or pets or delivering those services or supplies to others, including, but not limited to, groceries and food, household consumer products, supplies required to work from home, automobile supplies (including dealers, parts, supplies, repair, and maintenance), and products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences;
- Providing, facilitating, or receiving delivery or curbside carry-out delivery of online or telephone orders from businesses or organizations that do not perform or are not necessary for the performance of essential activity;
- Engaging in outdoor activity including, but not limited to, driving or riding in a vehicle, walking, hiking, running, biking, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, golf, tennis, or other sports or recreational activities that can be performed while maintaining the 6 foot distancing precautions;
- Caring for or visiting a family member, friend, or pet in another household, or transporting or traveling with family members, friends, or pets;
- Visiting a place of worship or attending a wedding or funeral; provided, that the Health Guidelines are followed to the greatest extent practicable. However, it is strongly encouraged that the public celebration component of weddings and funerals be postponed or attended only by close family members; and
- Engaging in essential travel, which includes travel related to:
- An essential activity;
- Performing essential services;
- Care for the elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons;
- Travel to or from educational institutions for purposes of receiving materials for distance learning;
- Delivering and receiving meals and any other related services;
- Travel to and from outside of the State of Tennessee; or
- Travel required by law, law enforcement, or court order, including to transport children pursuant to a custody agreement.
Essential businesses include:
- Healthcare and public health operations
- Human services operations
- Essential infrastructure operations
- Essential government functions
- Professional services
- Food and medicine stores
- Food and beverage production
- Agriculture
- Organizations that provide charitable and social services
- Media
- Gas stations and transportation services
- Banks
- Hardware and supply stores
- Mail and delivery services
- Educational institutions
- Laundry services
- Restaurants for off-premises consumption
- Producers of supplies to work from home
- Producers of supplies for essential businesses and operations
- Home-based care
- Residential facilities and shelters
- Manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain for critical products and Industries
- Hotels and motels
- Funeral services
If you have questions about how this Order affects you and/or your business, please contact the attorneys at KHA by phone at (615) 567-7304 or by email to kelli@khalawgroup.com or michael@khalawgroup.com. Stay home, stay safe, and stay well.
