The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office has announced a Stay-at-Home order for County residents. The order goes into effect on Thursday, March 26 at 8:00 a.m. and remains in effect for the next 21 days.

The order requires County residents to remain in their homes for the next 21 days as part of an attempt to reduce the number of new COVID-19 infections within the County. Exceptions will be allowed for those seeking medical treatment, buying food or exercising outdoors.

Essential workers, including hospital and medical staff, pharmacy employees, law enforcement, firefighters, EMS Agency (MEDIC), some government employees and food service and grocery store employees will be allowed to travel to work. The order will not prohibit restaurants from providing take out or delivery options. It also does not prohibit daycares, homeless shelters and government agencies from operating. The order will be enforced by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

Businesses and types of work considered essential include:

• Healthcare, public health, law enforcement, public safety and first responders
• Food, beverages, and agriculture (manufacturing, production, processing, cultivation including farming, livestock,
  fishing, baking, distribution of animals and good for consumption, providing food, shelter, and other necessities for animals)
• Stores that sell groceries and medicine
• Organizations that provide charitable and social services (businesses and religious and secular nonprofit
  organizations including food banks, when providing food and shelter, social services, and other necessities for life for economically disadvantaged or needy individuals, individuals who need assistance, and people with disabilities)
• Energy
• Water and wastewater
• Transportation and logistics
• Public works
• Communication and information technology
• Media
• Gas stations and businesses needed for transportation (gas stations and auto-supply, auto-repair, and related
  facilities and bicycle shops and related facilities)
• Financial institutions (banks, currency exchange, consumer lenders, including but not limited, to payday lenders,
  pawnbrokers, consumer installment lenders and sales finance lenders, credit unions, appraisers, title companies,
  financial markets, trading and future exchanges, affiliates of financial institutions, entities that issue bonds, related financial institutions, and institutions selling financial products)
• Hardware and supply stores
• Critical trades (building and construction – plumbers, electricians, exterminators, cleaning and janitorial staff for
  commercial and governmental properties, security staff, operating engineers, HVAC, painting, moving and relocation services, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences, essential activities, and essential businesses)
• Mail, post, shipping, logistics, delivery, and pick-up services (post offices and other businesses that provide shipping and delivery services, businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods or services to end users or through commercial channels)
• Laundry services
• Restaurants for consumption off-premises (in-house delivery, third-party deliver, drive-through, curbside pick-up,
  and carry-out)
• Supplies to work from home
• Supplies for essential businesses and operations
• Transportation (airlines, taxis, public transportation, vehicle rental, logistics)
• Home-based care and services (home-based care for adults, seniors, children, people with disabilities)
• Residential facilities and shelters
• Professional services (legal, accounting, insurance, real estate, restricted to appraisal and title services)
• Childcare centers (for specific employees – first responders, healthcare workers, public health, etc)
• Manufacture, distribution, and supply chain
• Hotels and motels
• Funeral services
• Other community-based government operations 
• Other community-based human service operations
• Critical manufacturing
• Hazardous materials

Under the order, you can still:

• Go to the grocery, convenience or warehouse store
• Go to the pharmacy to pick up medications and other healthcare necessities
• Visit a health care professional for medical services that cannot be provided virtually (call first)
• Go to a restaurant for take-out, delivery or drive-thru
• Care for or support a friend or family member
• Follow-through on custody exchanges
• Take a walk, ride your bike, hike, jog and be in nature for exercise – just keep at least six feet between you and others
• Walk your pets, and visit the veterinarian if necessary
• Help someone get necessary supplies
• Receive deliveries from any business that delivers.

Under the order, you should not:

• Go to work, unless you are providing essential services as defined by this Order
• Visit friends and family, if there is no urgent need
• Maintain less than 6 feet of distance from others when you go out
• Visit loved ones in the hospital, nursing home, skilled nursing facility or other residential care facility, except for limited exceptions as provided on the facility’s website
• Travel, except for essential travel and activities

For more information on the Stay-at-Home order, including frequently asked questions, and a complete list of essential services, visit MeckNC.gov.