These are unprecedented times in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. I proposed to City Council last night and they approved a “stay at home” ordinance for the City of Charleston. The whole intent is to “flatten the curve”, that is, to reduce the transmission of the virus, the number of cases. As we’ve seen in other parts of the world, when the number of cases goes up, hospitalizations quickly go up overwhelming the local health care system, and tragically, the number of deaths resulting from the virus takes off. This is what we want to avoid in Charleston. Saving lives and maintaining the health and wellness of our citizens is our goal. And we can do just that by everyone together pitching in, staying home, practice social distancing when you go out, and taking care of ourselves. We can “flatten this curve” together and our economy and social fabric will rebound all the faster, the healthier we remain. There is no challenge that we cannot face together. There is no trial that can break our faith. There is no pathogen that can lessen our love for our families, our friends, our fellow Charlestonians!
In Solidarity,
Mayor John Tecklenburg
Below is some of the language pulled from the ordinance and a list of the essential services that we modeled after the Department of Homeland Security.
Section 2. Effective 12:01 am, Thursday, March 26, 2020, individuals shall stay in their homes and not travel through or congregate in the streets, sidewalks, waterways and/or public spaces in the City of Charleston, including establishments that hold a City of Charleston business licenses except for the purposes of working at or conducting business with the attached list of businesses (hereinafter “Essential Service” or “Essential Services”), such list to be modified by the Mayor as necessary for the health, safety and welfare of the City of Charleston or to engage in individual outdoor recreational activities as set forth in Section 3 herein. Further:A) Individuals, who must go out for purposes of working at or conducting business with any Essential Service business provider, shall practice social distancing of at least six feet with the exception of those traveling in the same vehicle to or from an Essential Service for purposes of work or to conduct business at an Essential Service.
B) Pursuant to CDC guidelines, social gatherings of 10 or more people, for any reason other than working at or receiving Essential Services, is prohibited; however, pursuant to Gov. Henry McMaster’s Executive Order No. 2020-13, issued March 23, 2020 officers of the Charleston Police Department are authorized “to prohibit or disperse any congregation or gathering of people, unless authorized or in their homes, in groups of three (3) or more people, if any such law enforcement official determines, in their discretion, that any such congregation or gathering of people poses, or could pose, a threat to public health.”
C) Places conducting Essential Service operations shall take all reasonable measures, including limiting the number of individuals in their businesses, to facilitate and ensure social distancing of at least six feet.
D) Vendors that provide Essential Services or products, including logistics and technological support, shall use all reasonable means to ensure social distancing of at least six feet from others unless assisting another in traveling to or from work or obtaining goods and services.
E) Bars and restaurants which prepare, produce, or otherwise offer or sell food or beverages, of any kind, shall be prohibited from permitting dine in or on premises consumption of food or beverages whether indoors or outdoors, however, they may continue to offer pickup, take out or delivery services for consumption off premises.
Section 3. Individuals should limit outdoor recreational activities to those that allow for social distancing of at least six feet, do not entail coming into close contact with other people or involve the sharing of equipment.
Section 4. The City of Charleston Fire Department, Office of the Fire Marshal, Police Department, Building Inspections Division, and their designees, and Livability Code Enforcement Officers are hereby authorized to inspect and determine whether Essential Operations are in compliance with this Emergency Ordinance. For the duration of this Ordinance, it is unlawful for a person to willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of these individuals or their designees issued pursuant to this Ordinance.
LIST OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES
1. Essential health care operations including, research and laboratory services, hospitals, walk-in-care health facilities, veterinary and livestock services, elder care, medical wholesale and distribution, home health care workers or aides, doctor and emergency dental, nursing homes, or residential health care facilities or congregate care facilities, medical supplies and equipment manufacturers and providers.
2. Essential infrastructure operations including utilities including power generation, fuel supply and transmission, public water and wastewater, telecommunications and data centers, airports/airlines,
3. Essential manufacturing operations including food processing, manufacturing agents, including all foods and beverages, chemicals, medical equipment/instruments,
4. Essential retail operations including grocery stores and all food and beverage stores, big box stores or wholesale clubs that have in house grocery or pharmacy services, pharmacies,
5. Other essential service operations including garbage, trash and recycling collection, processing and disposal, mail and shipping services, laundromats and dry cleaning, building cleaning and maintenance, child care services, warehouse/
6. News media
7. Financial Institutions and Professional Services operations including banks, credit unions and check cashing services, insurance, payroll, accounting, services related to financial markets and legal services.
8. Providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged populations including, homeless shelters and congregate care facilities, food banks, 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.
9. Construction including, skilled trades such as electricians, plumbers, other related construction firms and professionals for essential infrastructure or for emergency repair and safety purposes, other construction where the contractor can ensure social distancing.
10. Defense operations including defense and national security-related operations supporting the U.S. Government or a contractor to the US government.
11. Essential services necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operations of residences or other essential businesses including, law enforcement, fire prevention and response, building code enforcement, security, emergency management and response, building cleaners or janitors, general maintenance whether employed by the entity directly or a vendor, automotive repair, disinfection mail, post, shipping, logistics, delivery and pick-up services.
