In response to the coronavirus pandemic, government agencies nationwide have initiated a variety of actions to protect the health and well-being of people who live in the US. Some of the most significant measures have taken the form of orders advising or requiring individuals to remain at home as much as possible to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The federal government has not issued a formal stay at home order, but has put forth guidelines urging members of the public to work and attend school from home as much as possible, avoid discretionary travel and social gatherings of more than 10 people, order in instead of eating out, and practice good hygiene. Currently these non-binding recommendations are in effect through the end of April 2020.
Most states have gone much further, with the vast majority issuing stay at home or shelter in place orders requiring residents to stay home unless they are working in essential businesses or critical infrastructure, or engaging in essential activities like buying food, seeing a doctor, or caring for pets or loved ones. People are also generally allowed to go outside to exercise as long as they maintain six feet of space from people they don’t live with. Further, when individuals leave home to shop for groceries or access other essential services, they are generally required to follow social distancing and sanitization rules. In many jurisdictions, failure to comply with stay at home orders and related mandates can lead to criminal fines and other penalties.
At present, most states are moving relatively slowly with regard to decision-making associated with when individual and business activities will become less restricted. However, many states have started to form regional pacts to coordinate when their economies will begin to reopen.
Click on the states listed below for information regarding the rules each jurisdiction has enacted to facilitate its residents remaining at home as much as possible during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Start/End Date: Alabama’s State Health Officer issued a stay at home order effective April 4, 2020 through at least April 30, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rules: Residents are to stay home unless they are performing essential activities. Grocery stores, liquor stores, and pharmacies are allowed to stay open, and restaurants can offer takeout or delivery.
Essential Activities: People can leave home for purposes including securing essential supplies like food and medicine, obtaining or providing essential services, attending religious services following social distancing guidelines or a drive-in format, exercising, and caring for others.
Alaska
Start/End Date: Governor Mike Dunleavy has issued social distancing and intrastate travel mandates effective from March 28, 2020 until further notice. However, the Governor announced that beginning April 24, 2020, a phased reopening of Alaska’s economy would allow businesses including restaurants and retail stores to start offering limited in-person services in accordance with strict health and safety standards.
Rules: Under the Governor’s social distancing and intrastate travel mandates, except for those engaged in critical health care, business, or government services, or when traveling to meet critical personal needs, residents are to stay at home and practice social distancing, which is defined as maintaining at least six feet of space from people you don’t live with. Grocery stores, health care providers, gas stations, banks, and hardware stores are among the businesses that have been permitted to remain open.
Essential Activities: Under the Governor’s social distancing and intrastate travel mandates, critical personal needs that warrant travel within the state during the coronavirus emergency include buying food or medicine, or seeking or providing essential services such as health care. People are also encouraged to work from home as much as possible.
Arizona
Start/End Date: Governor Doug Ducey issued an order entitled “Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected” effective March 31, 2020 through April 30, 2020, unless extended.
Rules: Arizona residents are to limit their time away from home, except to participate in or conduct essential activities. Stores that sell groceries and medicine, gas stations, banks, and entities that supply essential businesses or people working from home have remained open. Restaurants are open for takeout.
Essential Activities: Residents are permitted to leave home to obtain necessary supplies like food, seek health care, take care of others, and participate in outdoor or religious activities, provided that proper social distance is maintained. Arizonans are encouraged to increase social connectedness and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic by sharing information and engaging in physical activity.
Arkansas
Start/End Date: Arkansas has not promulgated a stay at home order in response to the coronavirus outbreak, though Governor Asa Hutchinson issued an order limiting gatherings from April 6, 2020 until further notice.
Rules: No more than 10 people may gather in any confined indoor or outdoor space. Businesses, places of worship, government entities, the judiciary, and other entities are exempt from this directive, but they are advised to maintain social distancing protocols. Schools, casinos, and gyms are closed, and on-site dining at restaurants is prohibited.
Essential Activities: More than 10 people may gather in unconfined outdoor spaces such as parks, trails, and golf courses if they can easily maintain six feet of social distance. Hotels and other commercial lodging entities may host authorized guests including first responders, health care professionals, hospital patients and their families, and people unable to return home because of COVID-19 travel restrictions.
California
Start/End Date: Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a shelter in place order effective from March 19, 2020 until further notice.
Rules: California residents are directed to remain at home unless they are helping to maintain continuity of operations in any of the critical infrastructure sectors identified by the federal government (which include areas such as health care, food and agriculture, transportation, and emergency services), or participating in authorized essential activities.
Essential Activities: Residents may leave home to access things like food, medication, and health care, but are advised to maintain social distancing protocols while doing so in order to limit the spread of coronavirus. State parks, beaches, and campgrounds are closed.
Colorado
Start/End Date: Governor Jared Polis has ordered Colorado residents to stay at home, effective March 26, 2020 through April 26, 2020. The Governor has announced that on April 27, 2020, the stay at home order will shift to a “safer at home” framework which encourages but does not require residents to stay home outside of essential activities. The phased reopening will also allow things like curbside pickup for retail stores, and the operation of personal service providers (like hair salons) provided that they comply with strict public health guidelines.
Rules: Under the stay at home order, Colorado residents must remain at home except to engage in certain critical functions like working in essential businesses, which include health care operations, critical infrastructure, and critical retail businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations. Public and private gatherings occurring outside the home are prohibited, unless their purpose is to carry out essential activities.
Essential Activities: Under the stay at home order, individuals may leave home to perform or utilize essential services, which can include obtaining food and necessary supplies, accessing health care, securing items needed to work from home, exercising, and caring for others. Social distancing measures should be observed to the greatest extent possible in all of these situations to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Connecticut
Start/End Date: Governor Ned Lamont issued the “Stay Safe, Stay Home” executive order in response to the COVID-19 outbreak effective March 23, 2020, now extended through May 20, 2020.
Rules: Nonessential businesses and nonprofits are closed to most in-person operations. Essential businesses including those among the 16 critical infrastructure groups designated by the federal government may continue to operate, subject to social distancing protocols. Recreational and social gatherings are limited to five people, though religious gatherings of up to 50 people are allowed if social distancing rules are followed.
Essential Activities: Connecticut residents may leave home to provide or obtain essential services, such as buying food or accessing health care. People should not travel in groups, and outdoor activities should be limited to those not requiring close contact.
Delaware
Start/End Date: Governor John Carney issued a shelter in place order effective March 24, 2020 until at least May 15, 2020.
Rules: Delaware residents must stay home due to the coronavirus pandemic unless they are participating in essential activities or essential travel, or facilitating minimum basic operations for the continuity of commercial and social life. Gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed if social distancing rules are followed. Stores that remain open are subject to social distancing requirements and occupancy limits that are scaled in accordance with fire occupancy and square footage rules. Businesses that may remain open include grocery stores, gas stations, and banks. Restaurants are open for takeout.
Essential Activities: People may leave home to do things like buy food, access healthcare, care for family members and pets, or engage in outdoor activities while observing social distancing protocols. Parks are open but playgrounds should be avoided.
District of Columbia
Start/End Date: Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a stay at home order effective April 1, 2020, currently extended through May 15, 2020.
Rules: DC residents are to stay home unless they are engaging in essential activities, working at essential businesses, performing or accessing essential government functions, or engaged in essential travel. Gatherings of 10 or more people are prohibited. Essential businesses include health care operations, food retailers, banks, and those offering professional services (legal, insurance, etc.), but only when assisting essential businesses or functions.
Essential Activities: People can leave home to buy food, access medical care that can’t be carried out via telehealth, obtain supplies necessary for working from home, care for family members or pets, or engage in outdoor activities while maintaining six feet of social distance.
Florida
Start/End Date: In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued a stay at home order effective from April 3, 2020 through at least April 30, 2020.
Rules: Florida residents are to stay at home unless they are engaged in essential jobs or activities. Essential businesses that have remained open during the coronavirus pandemic include grocery stores, pharmacies, gun stores, and gas stations. Religious worship services are also considered essential.
Essential Activities: Residents may leave home to buy food, see a doctor, care for family members or pets, or engage in outdoor activity that can be conducted in accordance with social distancing guidelines. Fishing and hunting are allowed.
Georgia
Start/End Date: Governor Brian Kemp issued a stay at home order effective April 3, 2020, currently extended through April 30, 2020. Starting April 24, 2020, businesses such as salons and gyms can return to minimum basic operations provided that they comply with social distancing and sanitization rules.
Rules: Georgia residents are to remain at home due to the COVID-19 outbreak unless they are participating in essential activities or necessary travel, or engaged in essential business or infrastructure functions. Critical infrastructure entities include those designated as such through guidance from the federal government, and include categories like medical care, food and agriculture, and telecommunications.
Essential Activities: People may leave home to obtain necessary supplies like food, medicine, and items needed for working from home, though preference should be given to online ordering and curbside pickup or delivery options. Georgia residents may also go out to seek medical care and to exercise, as long as they maintain six feet of distance from people they don’t live with.
Hawaii
Start/End Date: Governor David Ige issued a stay at home order effective from March 25, 2020 until at least April 30, 2020. A subsequent order restricts travel between the Hawaiian islands, and requires people to self-quarantine after traveling between islands in many cases.
Rules: Individuals must remain at home unless they are engaging in essential activities or facilitating essential business or critical infrastructure functions. Health care entities, stores that sell groceries and medicine, medical marijuana dispensaries, social service organizations, banks, and gas stations are among those that are open. Essential businesses must establish separate hours for populations that are at a high risk due to COVID-19. Restaurants can offer takeout or delivery.
Essential Activities: Residents of Hawaii can leave home to buy food, take care of others, access health care, and exercise (including swimming and surfing at beaches) in accordance with social distancing rules.
Idaho
Start/End Date: Governor Brad Little ordered the Director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to issue an order to self-isolate effective March 25, 2020, currently extended through April 30, 2020.
Rules: Due to the coronavirus outbreak, Idaho residents are to remain at home unless they are receiving or providing essential services, or working in essential businesses or critical infrastructure. Grocery stores, farmers’ markets, gas, stations, pharmacies, banks, and hardware stores are among those that are allowed to stay open. Restaurants can offer delivery or takeout.
Essential Activities: People are allowed to go out to purchase groceries, access health care, take care of family members or pets, or engage in outdoor recreation in accordance with social distancing guidelines.
Illinois
Start/End Date: Governor JB Pritzker issued a stay at home order effective March 21, 2020, currently extended through April 30, 2020.
Rules: Illinois residents must stay home unless they are engaged in essential activities, or carrying out essential government, infrastructure, or business functions. Grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and entities that supply products that allow people to work from home have remained open. Restaurants may offer takeout.
Essential Activities: People can leave home to buy food or other necessary supplies, seek medical care, take care of others, or engage in exercise in accordance with social distancing guidelines. Parks are open but playgrounds are not.
Indiana
Start/End Date: Governor Eric Holcomb issued a stay at home order effective March 24, 2020, currently effective through at least May 1, 2020.
Rules: Indiana residents are to stay home unless they are engaged in essential activities, or facilitating the continuation of essential business or operations. Gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited unless they fall under one of the order’s exemptions. Grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, hardware stores, and gas stations are among the businesses that are still open, but they should limit the number of customers on site, and consider setting separate hours for high-risk populations. People are also encouraged to purchase goods online and/or have them delivered, and not to shop in groups if they must shop in person.
Essential Activities: Residents may leave home to buy food, take care of others, seek healthcare, or engage in outdoor activities. Any time people leave their homes, they are to keep a distance of six feet between themselves and those who are not part of their household, and follow sanitization rules in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Iowa
Start/End Date: Iowa has not implemented a stay at home order, but beginning on March 17, 2020, Governor Kim Reynolds has issued a series of disaster emergency proclamations aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus by limiting business and other activities, and encouraging people to stay home and practice social distancing through at least April 30, 2020. People living in specified counties are also now subject to stricter rules, as described below.
Rules: Restaurants are closed except for takeout or delivery. Schools, fitness centers, theaters, casinos, salons, barbershops, bookstores, clothing stores, malls, libraries, playgrounds, campgrounds, and senior citizen centers, among other establishments, are also closed. Elective or nonessential medical and dental procedures are suspended, and telehealth and other health care administrative restrictions have been relaxed. In general, social and recreational gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited. For people living in the counties specified in the Governor’s April 16, 2020 proclamation, gatherings of any size with people living outside their own households are prohibited, and those individuals must practice social distancing by staying at least six feet away from those they do not live with when they leave home. Employers in these areas must facilitate remote work as much as possible, and/or implement social distancing and employee safety rules for on-site work.
Essential Activities: N/A.
Kansas
Start/End Date: Governor Laura Kelly issued a stay at home order effective March 30, 2020, currently extended through at least May 3, 2020.
Rules: Kansas residents must stay home to slow the spread of coronavirus unless they are performing an essential activity, or carrying out an essential function on behalf of an organization or business that is part of the Kansas Essential Function Framework. Grocery stores, liquor stores, golf courses, and car dealerships are among the businesses that have remained open. Restaurants can offer takeout or delivery.
Essential Activities: Residents can leave home to buy food or medicine, access health care, take care of others, or engage in outdoor activities in groups of less than 10 while maintaining six feet of distance from people they do not live with.
Kentucky
Start/End Date Governor Andy Beshear has issued a healthy at home order, effective from March 26, 2020 until further notice.
Rules: Only life-sustaining businesses may remain open, and in-person work that is not required to protect or sustain life is prohibited. Examples of life-sustaining businesses include grocery stores, liquor stores, gas stations, hardware stores, media outlets, and gun stores. To reduce the spread of the coronavirus, Kentucky residents must maintain a distance of at least six feet from other people when they are in public. Elective medical procedures are prohibited.
Essential Activities: Kentucky residents may leave their homes for purposes such as getting food, exercising outdoors, and going to take care of others in need. People should adhere to the six-foot physical distancing requirement when conducting essential activities.
Louisiana
Start/End Date: Governor John Bel Edwards has issued a stay at home order, effective from April 2, 2020 to April 30, 2020, unless extended by the Governor.
Rules: Public gatherings are limited to 10 people to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, pharmacies, doctor’s offices, and banks are among the businesses that may remain open. Restaurants can offer food through delivery, takeout, or drive-through options. State buildings remain open.
Essential Activities: Louisiana residents may leave their homes to get food or medicine, and they may take necessary supplies to someone else. People may exercise outdoors, provided that they maintain the six-foot separation required for social distancing.
Maine
Start/End Date: Governor Janet T. Mills has issued a stay at home order, effective from April 2, 2020 to April 30, 2020, unless otherwise ordered. This order was slightly amended on April 10, 2020 by a second executive order, which changed customer limits in stores. Essential businesses are defined by a separate executive order, which was issued on March 24, 2020.
Rules: Maine residents need to stay home unless they have an essential job or an essential personal reason. Examples of essential businesses that may remain open include banks, grocery stories, pharmacies, gas stations, and laundromats. The number of customers allowed in a store at one time is limited based on the floor space of the store. Schools must continue remote learning until at least May 1, 2020.
Essential Activities: Maine residents may leave their homes to get medicine or groceries, or perform other life-sustaining activities. People may continue to exercise outdoors if they maintain six-foot physical distancing to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Maryland
Start/End Date: Governor Larry Hogan has issued a stay at home order, effective from March 30, 2020 until terminated by the Governor. (This order amended and restated an earlier stay at home order, which took effect on March 23, 2020.)
Rules: Essential businesses that may remain open include banks, grocery stores, liquor stores, gas stations, laundromats, and restaurants that provide takeout or drive-through options. These businesses must restrict contact between customers and staff. Nonessential businesses that must close include theaters, fitness centers, and malls. Public gatherings are limited to 10 people to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
Essential Activities: Maryland residents may leave their homes to get food or medicine, or to receive health care. They must wear masks when they go to a store. People can continue to exercise outdoors while maintaining six feet of physical distancing, although recreational boating is prohibited.
Massachusetts
Start/End Date: Governor Charlie Baker has issued a stay at home order, effective from April 1, 2020 to May 4, 2020, unless extended by the Governor. (This order extended an earlier stay at home order, which took effect on March 24, 2020.)
Rules: Nonessential businesses and operations must close their physical workplaces, but they are encouraged to transition to remote work. Public gatherings in indoor spaces are limited to 10 people to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. This limit does not apply to outdoor gatherings. Grocery stores, banks, gas stations, pharmacies, liquor stores, and medical marijuana shops are among the businesses that may remain open, although recreational marijuana shops must close. Restaurants may remain open to offer takeout and delivery.
Essential Activities: Massachusetts residents may leave their homes to get food or medicine, or to obtain health care. People may exercise outdoors, but they must maintain six-foot physical distancing.
Michigan
Start/End Date: Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued a stay at home order, effective from April 9, 2020 to May 1, 2020, unless extended by the Governor. (This order extended and clarified an earlier stay at home order, which took effect on March 24, 2020.)
Rules: Michigan residents must stay at home unless they are critical workers or engaging in essential activities. All public and private gatherings outside family homes are prohibited. The number of customers allowed in a store at one time is limited based on the floor space of the store. Grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, gas stations, and laundromats are among the businesses that may remain open.
Essential Activities: Michigan residents may leave their homes to get food, medicine, and other essential supplies. People may exercise outdoors, but they must maintain six-foot physical distancing to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Minnesota
Start/End Date: Governor Tim Walz has issued a stay at home order, effective from April 8, 2020 to May 4, 2020, unless extended by the Governor. (This order extended and clarified an earlier stay at home order, which took effect on March 28, 2020.)
Rules: Grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, and other businesses that provide essential supplies may stay open during the coronavirus outbreak. Restaurants may remain open only for delivery and curbside takeout. Schools must stay closed until at least May 4, 2020.
Essential Activities: Minnesota residents can leave their homes to get essential items, including food, gas, and medicine. They can go to their workplace if they work in an essential sector, and they can relocate for safety if needed. People may continue to exercise outdoors.
Mississippi
Start/End Date: Governor Tate Reeves has issued a shelter in place order, effective from April 3, 2020 to April 27, 2020, unless extended by the Governor. Essential businesses are defined by a separate executive order, which was issued on March 24, 2020.
Rules: Nonessential social gatherings are limited to 10 people to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Gyms and parks are closed, although walking trails remain open. Restaurants may provide delivery, takeout, and drive-through options. Essential businesses that may remain open include grocery stores, pharmacies, and health care services.
Essential Activities: Mississippi residents may leave their homes to get essential supplies, such as food and medicine. People also may leave their homes to care for someone who is vulnerable to COVID-19, or to go to a job at an essential business. People must maintain six-foot physical distancing outside the home and avoid groups of 10 or more people.
Missouri
Start/End Date: Governor Mike Parson directed Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Dr. Randall Williams to issue a stay home order. The order is effective from April 6, 2020 to May 3, 2020, subject to extensions.
Rules: Missouri residents should not leave their homes for nonessential reasons. Banks, gas stations, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other essential businesses may remain open. Restaurants may remain open for takeout, delivery, and drive-through options. Playgrounds remain open.
Essential Activities: Missouri residents may leave their homes to get food, medicine, gas, and other essential supplies. People may continue to exercise outside during the coronavirus outbreak, but they should maintain six-foot physical distancing and use caution.
Montana
Start/End Date: Governor Steve Bullock has issued a stay at home directive, effective from March 28, 2020 to April 24, 2020, unless extended by the Governor.
Rules: Essential businesses and services that may remain open include grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, gas stations, laundromats, and playgrounds. Restaurants may remain open for takeout options. Public parks and public lands remain open during the coronavirus outbreak.
Essential Activities: Montana residents can leave home to get essential supplies, such as food and medicine. People can continue to exercise outside while maintaining six-foot physical distancing.
Nebraska
Start/End Date: Governor Pete Ricketts has not yet issued a statewide stay at home order. However, Governor Ricketts has issued nine Directed Health Measures to address the COVID-19 outbreak, covering all the counties in Nebraska. The last of these measures took effect on April 3, 2020. The measures will last until May 11, 2020, unless they are renewed. The Governor also issued a Proclamation on April 9, 2020, urging Nebraskans to take certain health-related precautions during the 21-day period between April 10, 2020 and April 30, 2020. More narrowly, an executive order issued on April 1, 2020 implemented certain social distancing measures for notary services and financial institutions.
Rules: Public gatherings in most settings are limited to 10 people. Schools must operate without students through May 31, 2020, and school-related extracurricular activities are prohibited through May 31. Elective surgeries and other elective medical and dental procedures are prohibited. Restaurants are limited to offering takeout options. People must quarantine at home for 14 days if they have tested positive for COVID-19, have certain symptoms of COVID-19, or live or have lived with someone who has tested positive or has symptoms.
Essential Activities: The measures do not define essential activities, but the proclamation urges Nebraska residents to stay home except for essential errands. They are urged to work from home or use six-foot physical distancing in the workplace, to shop alone, to limit shopping to once per week, and to exercise at home or while maintaining appropriate physical distancing. The proclamation also urges Nebraska residents to keep their children at home to the extent possible and to help shop for elderly people, who are more vulnerable to the coronavirus. They should not visit long-term care facilities.
Nevada
Start/End Date: Governor Steve Sisolak has issued a stay at home directive, effective from April 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020, subject to renewal. An earlier directive, which was issued on March 20, 2020, required nonessential businesses to close on that date.
Rules: Public gatherings of 10 or more people are prohibited. Essential businesses that may remain open during the coronavirus outbreak include grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, and pharmacies. Restaurants may remain open only for takeout or delivery. In addition to nonessential businesses, schools and gaming operations in Nevada are closed.
Essential Activities: Nevada residents can leave their homes to get essential supplies, such as food and medicine. People can continue to exercise outdoors if they follow the six-foot physical distancing rule.
New Hampshire
Start/End Date: Governor Chris Sununu has issued a stay at home order, effective from March 27, 2020 to May 4, 2020, unless extended by the Governor.
Rules: Nonessential businesses and all state beaches along the coast of New Hampshire are closed. Grocery stores, pharmacies, and laundromats are among the businesses that may remain open. Churches, synagogues, and other religious institutions also may remain open during the coronavirus outbreak.
Essential Activities: New Hampshire residents can leave their homes for essential errands, such as getting food or groceries, receiving medical treatment, caring for a loved one, or visiting a spouse, parent, or child. People can continue to exercise and enjoy open spaces, but they must follow social distancing guidance from the Division of Public Health.
New Jersey
Start/End Date: Governor Phil Murphy has issued a stay at home order, effective from March 21, 2020 until the Governor revokes or modifies it.
Rules: Essential businesses that may remain open include grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies, banks, gas stations, laundromats, pet stores, and medical marijuana shops. Restaurants, bars, and liquor stores may remain open only for takeout or delivery. All state and county parks and state forests are closed during the COVID-19 outbreak. Celebrations, parties, and similar gatherings are prohibited.
Essential Activities: New Jersey residents can leave their homes to get essential supplies, such as food or medicine, or medical attention. People also can visit someone with whom they have a close personal relationship. People can engage in outdoor activities while following the six-foot physical distancing rule.
New Mexico
Start/End Date: Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham directed New Mexico Department of Health Cabinet Secretary Kathyleen M. Kunkel to issue a stay at home order. The order is effective from March 24, 2020 to April 30, 2020, subject to extensions.
Rules: Essential businesses that may remain open during the coronavirus outbreak include grocery stores, banks, gas stations, hardware stores, and laundromats. Occupancy in grocery stores and other retail stores that are considered essential businesses cannot exceed 20 percent of the normal occupancy limit under fire marshal rules. Restaurants are limited to delivery and takeout options.
Essential Activities: New Mexico residents can leave their homes only for outings that are essential to health, safety, and welfare. People can continue to exercise outside and walk their pets, but they must not exercise in groups and must complete these outings as quickly as possible.
New York
Start/End Date: Governor Andrew Cuomo has issued a stay at home order, known as New York State on Pause. It is effective from March 22, 2020 to May 15, 2020, unless the Governor extends it.
Rules: Essential businesses that may remain open during the COVID-19 outbreak include grocery stores, convenience stores, liquor stores, food delivery services, banks, and gas stations. Businesses that fail to comply will face civil fines and mandatory closures. Nonessential gatherings are limited. Public transportation continues to function.
Essential Activities: New York residents can leave their homes to get food, medicine, and other essential supplies. People also can exercise outdoors, although they must comply with physical distancing rules and participate only in non-contact outdoor recreational activities.
North Carolina
Start/End Date: Governor Roy Cooper has issued a stay at home order, effective from March 30, 2020 to April 29, 2020, unless the Governor extends or revises it.
Rules: Essential businesses that may remain open include grocery stores, liquor stores, and gas stations. Restaurants are open only to provide delivery, takeout, or drive-through options. Gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited during the coronavirus outbreak.
Essential Activities: North Carolina residents can leave their homes to get food, provide care to loved ones, and exercise outdoors, among other activities. People must adhere to the six-foot physical distancing rule whenever they leave home.
North Dakota
Start/End Date: Governor Doug Burgum has not issued a stay at home order. However, the Governor has issued executive orders that close or restrict certain businesses, including dining establishments, recreational facilities, and theaters, through April 30, 2020. All public and non-public K-12 schools are closed to students until further notice.
Rules: People must quarantine at home for 14 days if they have tested positive for COVID-19, and family and household members residing with someone who has tested positive must also self-quarantine for 14 days. Visitation in North Dakota long-term care facilities is suspended except for end-of-life or compassionate care for residents with terminal conditions. All nonessential personnel and volunteers are restricted from long-term care facilities.
Essential Activities: N/A.
Ohio
Start/End Date: Under the direction of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton issued a stay at home order that went into effect on March 23, 2020. It has been amended to last through May 1, 2020.
Rules: All individuals living in Ohio are ordered to stay home, with limited exceptions. The order prohibits most public and private gatherings of any size, and closes all nonessential businesses. Residents can return home from out of state and can leave the state. Most travelers to Ohio should self-quarantine for 14 days. People who have tested positive for COVID-19, are presumptively diagnosed with COVID-19, or who are exhibiting symptoms are instructed not to travel to Ohio, except in certain circumstances involving medical care or if they are a state resident.
Essential Activities: Allowable activities include going to the grocery store, receiving medical care, taking your pet for a walk, accessing laundry services, and exercising outdoors while practicing social distancing.
Oklahoma
Start/End Date: Governor Kevin Stitt has not issued a stay at home order for all residents, but has issued a statewide “Safer at Home” order for vulnerable individuals that is in effect through April 30, 2020. A separate order imposed self-quarantine requirements for certain individuals traveling to Oklahoma. On April 22, 2020, Governor Stitt also announced the Open Up and Recover Safely Plan, under which Oklahoma will begin implementing a three-phased approach to open Oklahoma’s economy on April 24, 2020.
Rules: Adults over the age of 65 and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions are required to stay at home, with limited exceptions. Visitors are prohibited from entering and visiting patients and residents at nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and retirement homes. All people who enter Oklahoma by air from an area with substantial community spread (including the states of NY, NJ, CT, WA, LA, and CA) must self-quarantine for 14 days, with limited exceptions.
Essential Activities: Individuals subject to the order can leave their home for “essential errands,” which include obtaining groceries, medication, gasoline, and visiting medical providers.
Oregon
Start/End Date: In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Governor Kate Brown issued a “Stay Home, Save Lives” order that went into effect on March 23, 2020 and remains in effect until terminated.
Rules: All nonessential social and recreational gatherings of individuals are prohibited, regardless of size, if a distance of at least six feet between individuals cannot be maintained. Gatherings of members of the same residential household are permitted. When individuals need to leave their homes, they should at all times maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any person who is not a member of their immediate household, to the greatest extent possible. The order also closes and prohibits shopping at categories of retail businesses for which close personal contact is difficult to avoid, including barber shops, gyms and fitness studios, and theaters.
Essential Activities: Individuals may travel for certain purposes, including fulfilling essential consumer needs such as obtaining or providing food, seeking health care, and for the care of family members, pets, and livestock. Individuals may go outside for recreational activities, but must limit those outings to non-contact activities, and are prohibited from engaging in such activities where it is not possible to maintain appropriate social distancing.
Pennsylvania
Start/End Date: Governor Tom Wolf issued an initial stay at home order on April 1, 2020 that has been extended through May 8, 2020.
Rules: All individuals residing in the Commonwealth are ordered to stay at home except for engaging in certain essential activities, and working to provide life-sustaining business or government services. A list of life-sustaining businesses is included in the order.
Essential Activities: Residents can travel in limited instances, including to obtain food and medicine, visit a healthcare professional, care for a family member or pet in another household. Residents may engage in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking, or running if they maintain social distancing.
Rhode Island
Start/End Date: To slow the spread of COVID-19, Governor Gina Raimondo issued a stay at home order on March 28, 2020, which was extended through May 8, 2020.
Rules: All Rhode Island residents are required to stay home unless traveling to work, traveling for medical treatment, or obtaining necessities. Any person coming to Rhode Island from another state for a non-work-related purpose must immediately self-quarantine for 14 days. Any person who lives in Rhode Island and works in another state who can work from home is required to do so. All non-critical retail businesses are required to cease in-person operations.
Essential Activities: Not explicitly defined, but residents can travel for medical treatment or to obtain necessities (food, medicine, gas, etc.). Rhode Island residents may go outside to exercise and get fresh air, however, they must practice social distancing while outside and avoid touching surfaces frequently touched by others.
South Carolina
Start/End Date: Governor Henry McMaster has issued a number of stay at home-related orders, including Executive Order 2020-21 (Home or Work Order), which became effective April 7, 2020. This order did not have an end date, but the most recent Executive Order (2020-28) modifies this and other previous orders, and includes directives on reopening certain facilities, venues, and services.
Rules: All residents and visitors in South Carolina are required to limit social interaction, practice social distancing in accordance with CDC guidance, and shall limit their movements outside of home, with limited exceptions. Effective April 20,2020, certain nonessential businesses and facilities are allowed to reopen to non-employees and for access or use by the public (subject to requirements such as social distancing), including furniture stores, clothing and shoes stores, bookstores, sporting goods stores, and flea markets. Effective April 21, 2020 previous state restrictions on public beaches and related facilities have been removed.
Essential Activities: Essential activities under the directive to stay home to slow the spread of coronavirus have included obtaining food and medication, caring for or visiting a family member, engaging in outdoor exercise or recreational activities, and attending religious services conducted in churches, synagogues, or other houses of worship.
South Dakota
Start/End Date: Governor Kristi Noem has not issued a statewide stay at home order for all residents. However, Governor Noem issued Executive Order 2020-13 covering residents and visitors in Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties through April 27, 2020.
Rules: Under Executive Order 2020-13, people who are over the age of 65 and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions shall stay at home or a place of residence if possible, except if they work in a critical infrastructure job or to conduct essential errands. In addition, Executive Order 2020-12, which applies through May 31, 2020, states that any "enclosed retail business that promotes public gatherings" shall suspend or modify its business practices that involve 10 or more people being in an enclosed space where physical separation of at least six feet is not possible.
Essential Activities: Essential errands include obtaining medication, groceries, gasoline, and visiting medical providers. Exercising outside and farming or ranching activities are also permitted.
Tennessee
Start/End Date: In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Governor Bill Lee has issued a number of stay at home-related executive orders effective from March 31, 2020 through April 30, 2020, after which time a phased reopening of the economy will begin.
Rules: All persons in Tennessee are required to stay at home, except for when engaging in essential activity or essential services. Essential services are defined to include health care and public health operations, food and medicine stores, gas stations, laundry services, and religious and ceremonial functions.
Essential Activities: Essential activities include going to the grocery store, obtaining medication, caring for or visiting a family member, engaging in outdoor activity, visiting a place of worship or attending a wedding or funeral, or engaging in essential travel.
Texas
Start/End Date: Governor Greg Abbott issued a statewide order that is in effect through April 30, 2020. It is not officially referred to as a “stay at home” order, but it has a similar intent. On April 17, 2020, Governor Abbott issued a statewide order that includes directives on reopening certain services.
Rules: Every person in Texas shall, except where necessary to provide or obtain essential services or reopened services, minimize social gatherings and minimize in-person contact with people who are not in the same household. People shall avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants, and food courts, or visiting gyms, massage establishments, tattoo studios, piercing studios, or cosmetology salons. The use of drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options for food and drinks is allowed. People are prohibited from visiting nursing homes, state-supported living centers, assisted living facilities, or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance. Schools are closed to in-person classroom attendance for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
Essential Activities: Essential activities during the coronavirus pandemic include going to the grocery store or gas station, providing or obtaining other essential services, visiting parks, hunting or fishing, or engaging in physical activity like jogging or bicycling, so long as the necessary precautions are maintained. The Texas Division of Emergency Management maintains a list of “essential services,” and it includes religious services conducted in churches, congregations, and houses of worship. Starting on April 24, 2020, “reopened services” will include retail services that are not essential services, but that may be provided through pickup, delivery by mail, or delivery to the customer’s doorstep in strict compliance with terms set by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Utah
Start/End Date: Governor Gary Herber has not issued a formal stay at home order, but did issue a “Stay Safe, Stay Home” directive, which has been extended through May 1, 2020.
Rules: People must quarantine at home for 14 days after traveling out of state or after being exposed to an individual presenting symptoms of illness consistent with COVID-19. In addition, people are directed to: (1) not pay in-person social visits to hospitals, nursing homes, or other residential care facilities, (2) not pay in-person social visits to friends or family, (3) not attend any in-person gathering of any number of people who are not of the same household or residence, and (4) not arrange or allow your child to participate in in-person playdates or similar activities.
Essential Activities: People are directed to limit travel to “essential travel,” which includes traveling to engage in recreational and outdoor activities close to home and traveling to obtain food, medication, gasoline, and laundry services.
Vermont
Start/End Date: Governor Phil Scott issued a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order effective March 25, 2020, currently extended through May 15, 2020.
Rules: Vermont residents are ordered to stay at home, leaving only for essential reasons that are critical to health and safety. All businesses and not-for-profit entities (with limited exceptions, including health care operations, grocery stores, pharmacies and hardware stores) must suspend all in-person business operations. Sales can continue if they can be facilitated with curbside pickup or delivery only.
Essential Activities: Essential reasons for leaving the home include buying groceries or medicine, curbside pick-up of goods, meals or beverages, accessing medical care, exercising, taking care of others. People can also leave their homes to work under certain circumstances, such as to provide services or functions deemed critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security.
Virginia
Start/End Date: In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Governor Ralph Northam issued a statewide stay at home order effective from March 30, 2020 through at least June 10, 2020.
Rules: The order directs all Virginians to stay home except in extremely limited circumstances. Most public and private in-person gatherings of more than 10 individuals are prohibited, including parties, celebrations, religious, or other social events, whether they occur indoors or outdoors. The order also directs all Virginia institutions of higher education to stop in-person classes and instruction. Private campgrounds must be closed for short-term stays, and beaches are closed statewide except for fishing and exercise.
Essential Activities: Individuals may leave home to seek medical attention, care for family or household members, obtain goods and services like groceries or prescriptions, and engage in outdoor activity in accordance with strict social distancing requirements.
Washington
Start/End Date: Governor Jay Inslee has issued a ”Stay Home - Stay Healthy” proclamation, which took effect on March 23, 2020, and is currently extended through May 4, 2020.
Rules: To slow the spread of coronavirus, all people in the state are prohibited from leaving their homes or participating in social, spiritual, or recreational gatherings of any kind. Exceptions including conducting or participating in (1) essential activities, and/or (2) employment in providing essential business services.
Essential Activities: Essential activities include going to the grocery store, obtaining medication, caring for a family member, friend, or pet in another household or residence, and getting outdoor exercise if appropriate social distancing practices are used.
West Virginia
Start/End Date: Governor Jim Justice issued a statewide stay at home order effective March 24, 2020. It remains in effect until terminated.
Rules: The stay at home order requires West Virginians to remain in their homes and residences and leave to access essential services or activities. Residents can also leave their homes to work at jobs that provide or support essential services and activities. Entities that have been ordered to close include dine-in restaurants, bars, gyms, barber shops, theaters, and state park lodges.
Essential Activities: Essential activities include going to the grocery store or gas station, picking up a prescription or receiving non-elective medical care, attending a place of worship, checking on relatives, and getting outdoor exercise for yourself, your children, and your pets.
Wisconsin
Start/End Date: Wisconsin’s COVID-19 stay at home order became effective on March 25, 2020. The latest version of the order was issued on April 16, 2020 by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. It will become effective on April 24, 2020 and remain in effect until May 26, 2020.
Rules: All individuals present within the State of Wisconsin are ordered to stay at home or at their place of residence, with limited exceptions. Public and private K-12 schools are closed for pupil instruction and extracurricular activities for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. All for-profit and non-profit businesses with a facility in Wisconsin, except essential businesses and operations as defined in the order, must cease all activities at facilities located within Wisconsin, though there are exceptions for things like working from home.
Essential Activities: Residents can leave their homes for exercise and to obtain food and medication, among other activities. When using shared or outdoor spaces other than their home or residence, people must maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any other person except for those living in the same unit or household.
Wyoming
Start/End Date: Governor Mark Gordon Herber has not issued a stay at home order, but has extended three existing statewide health orders through April 30, 2020.
Rules: All childcare facilities and home daycares are ordered closed, with limited exceptions. K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and trade schools shall not hold classes before May 1, 2020 unless an exception is granted. Many business entities are ordered closed, including restaurants, bars, gyms, and theaters. Food establishments can continue to provide delivery services, but carry-out service is required to take place curbside. Gatherings of 10 people or more in a single room or confined space (including outdoors) are prohibited. In addition, any individual coming to Wyoming from another state or country for a non-work-related purpose must self-quarantine for 14 days. For visits of less than 14 days, that individual must self-quarantine for the duration of their visit.
Essential Activities: Places of public accommodation that offer food and beverage not for on-premises consumption, including grocery stores, pharmacies, and food pantries, can remain open.
