|
JACKSON — Today,
Governor Tate Reeves signed a new executive order establishing a
statewide Safer at Home order for Mississippi to continue protecting
public health while beginning the process to safely reopen the state's
economy.
In his new executive order, Governor Reeves lays out a measured and
strategic plan to reopen Mississippi while continuing to flatten the
curve and conserve healthcare resources. Consulting with our state
health experts, the Executive Order sets out guidelines for certain
business operations and healthcare activities to safely resume.
Governor Reeves announced his new executive order at his daily press
briefing today, which you can view live on our Facebook page here.
"This disease has not hit every American fairly. And the economic
damage has not hit every American fairly. Wall Street and Hollywood
will be fine. Mississippi small businesses and workers are
not. That’s who has been asked to shoulder the country’s burden.
It’s not fair, and it’s not right. We are starting to re-open our
economy. It’s not a light switch that only goes on and off. It’s a
dimmer. We can take measured steps to make life better," said
Governor Tate Reeves.
In this latest executive order, the Governor lays out the guidelines of
the Safer at Home order to continue flattening the curve, including:
- Mississippians are encouraged to stay at home
unless they need to leave for essential activities or essential
travel, such as caring for someone in the vulnerable population,
getting food or necessary supplies, and going to work.
- All those in the vulnerable population are
instructed to continue sheltering in place to protect their
health.
- This includes all elderly individuals
(age 65 or older per CDC guidelines) and individuals with serious
underlying health conditions, including high blood pressure,
chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, and those whose
immune systems are compromised as such by chemotherapy for cancer
or any other condition requiring such therapy.
- When outside of their homes, people must follow
social distancing guidelines by maintaining a 6-foot distance from
others and avoid groups of 10 or more.
- Social and other non-essential gatherings in
groups of more than 10 people must be cancelled or rescheduled.
- Evictions are suspended, though people are
still required to pay any rent or make any mortgage payments.
- Certain businesses previously closed under the
shelter-in-place are allowed to reopen, while following health and
safety mandates recommended by the Mississippi State Department of
Health (MSDH).
- Places of amusement or entertainment, like
movie theaters and museums, and businesses that cannot avoid
sustained person-to-person contact, like salons or gyms, will
remain closed, other than curbside pick-up, drive-thru, or
delivery for retails sale of their products but not services.
- All businesses and non-profit organizations are
encouraged to continue allowing their employees to work from home
or telework to all extent possible.
- Restaurants and bars may only remain open for
drive-thru, curbside pick-up, and/or delivery service.
- Retail businesses are to implement reasonable
measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including limiting the
number of customers in their stores at one time to no greater than
50% of their store capacity and making hand sanitizer
available to customers upon entry.
- Healthcare professionals and facilities may
resume performing elective medical and dental procedures and
surgeries as allowed and approved by MSDH. Such non-emergent
procedures and surgeries should limit their use of disposable PPE
and not request PPE from any public source.
You can view the Safer at Home
Executive Order here.
Safer at Home FAQs can be found on the Governor's website at governorreeves.ms.gov/covid-19.
|