Klarides-Ditria updates governor's order to close 'non-essential' businesses

Dear Neighbors, Here is the latest update on Gov. Lamont's decision to close "non-essential" businesses as a strategy to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The governor's order goes into effect Monday at 8 p.m.  Late Sunday, state economic development officials released official guidance designed to give business owners, their employees, and residents better understanding of what is and isn't open. Click here to read the document. For purposes of Executive Order 7H, “essential business,” means: 1. Essential workers in the 16 Critical Infrastructure Sectors, as defined by the federal Department of Homeland Security unless otherwise addressed in a prior or future executive order pertaining to the existing declared public health and civil preparedness emergency. 2. Healthcare and related operations including: • biotechnology therapies • consumer health products and services • doctor and dentist offices • elder care, including adult day care • health care plans and health care data • home health care workers or aides • hospitals • manufacturing, distributing, warehousing, and supplying of pharmaceuticals, including research and development • medical marijuana dispensaries and producers • medical supplies and equipment providers, including devices, diagnostics, services, and any other healthcare related supplies or services • medical wholesale and distribution • nursing homes, or residential health care facilities or congregate care facilities • pharmacies • physical therapy and chiropractic offices • research and laboratory services, including testing and treatment of COVID-19 • veterinary and animal health services • walk-in-care health facilities 3. Infrastructure including: • airports/airlines • commercial trucking • dam maintenance and support • education-related functions at the primary, secondary, or higher education level to provide support for students, including distribution of meals or faculty conducting e-learning • hotels and other places of accommodation • water and wastewater operations, systems, and businesses • telecommunications and data centers • transportation infrastructure including bus, rail, for-hire vehicles and vehicle rentals, and garages • utilities including power generation, fuel supply, and transmission 4. All manufacturing and corresponding supply chains, including aerospace, agriculture, and related support businesses 5. Retail including: • appliances, electronics, computers, and telecom equipment • big-box stores or wholesale clubs, provided they also sell groceries, consumer health products, or operate a pharmacy • convenience stores • gas stations • grocery stores including all food and beverage retailers • guns and ammunition • hardware, paint, and building material stores, including home appliance sales/repair • liquor/package stores and manufacturer permittees • pharmacies • pet and pet supply stores 6. Food and agriculture, including: • farms and farmer’s markets • food manufacturing, processing, storage, and distribution facilities  • nurseries, garden centers, and agriculture supply stores • restaurants/bars (provided compliance with all applicable executive orders is maintained) 7. Services including: • accounting and payroll services • animal shelters or animal care or management, including boarding, grooming, pet walking and pet sitting  • auto supply, repair, towing, and service, including roadside assistance • bicycle repair and service • building cleaning and maintenance • child care services • critical operations support for financial institutions • financial advisors • financial institutions, including banks, credit unions, and check cashing services • funeral homes, crematoriums, and cemeteries • insurance companies • laundromats/dry cleaning • legal and accounting services • mail and shipping services • marinas and marine repair and service • news and media • real estate transactions and related services, including residential leasing and renting • religious services (subject to Executive Order 7D limiting gatherings to 50 people) • storage for Essential Businesses • trash and recycling collection, hauling, and processing • warehouse/distribution, shipping, and fulfillment 8. Providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged populations including: • food banks • homeless shelters and congregate care facilities • human services providers whose function includes the direct care of patients in state-licensed or funded voluntary programs; the care, protection, custody and oversight of individuals both in the community and in state-licensed residential facilities; those operating community shelters and other critical human services agencies providing direct care or support social service agencies 9. Construction including: • all skilled trades such as electricians, HVAC, and plumbers  • general construction, both commercial and residential • other related construction firms and professionals for essential infrastructure or for emergency repair and safety purposes • planning, engineering, design, bridge inspection, and other construction support activities 10. Services necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operations of all residences and other buildings (including services necessary to secure and maintain non-essential workplaces): • building cleaners or janitors • building code enforcement • disinfection • doormen • emergency management and response • fire prevention and response • general maintenance whether employed by the entity directly or a vendor • home-related services, including real estate transactions, closings, appraisals, and moving services • landscaping services • law enforcement • outdoor maintenance, including pool service • pest control services • security and maintenance, including steps reasonably necessary to secure and maintain non-essential businesses • state marshals 11. Vendors that provide essential services or products, including logistics and technology support, child care, and services needed to ensure the continuing operation of government agencies and provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public including:  • billboard leasing and maintenance • child care services • essential government services • government owned or leased buildings • information technology and information security • logistics • technology support 12. Defense  • defense and national security-related business and operations supporting the U.S. Government or a contractor to the US government If the function of your business is not listed above, but you believe that it is essential or it is an entity providing essential services or functions, you may request designation as an Essential Business. Requests by businesses to be designated an essential function as described above, should ONLY be made if they are NOT covered by the guidance. To request designation as an Essential Business, please click here. Restrictions on requesting designation as an Essential Business: • Any business that only has a single occupant/employee (e.g. attendant) is deemed exempt and need not submit a request to be designated as an Essential Business. General information for additional resources that both employers and employees may find helpful can be accessed by clicking here.  Just as reminder, the state continues to maintain a web portal with the most up-to-date information and statistics on COVID-19, as well as a Frequently Asked Questions document that is updated regularly.  In order to provide accurate and timely information, my website has a special Coronavirus Information page that includes important local, state and federal links for your convenience. You can access the page at this link and if you have questions that are not answered by those resources, please reach out to me at nicole.klarides-ditria@housegop.ct.gov or 1-800-842-1423.  I will also be providing additional updates on my Facebook page which you can find here. Sincerely, State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria