Only these Kentucky businesses can stay open under Beshear’s latest order
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear spelled out Wednesday in a new executive order which businesses can remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic because he considers them “life-sustaining.”
In his eight-page order, he said all businesses “that are not-life sustaining” must close by 8 p.m. Thursday “except as needed to conduct minimum basic operations.”
He defined those as the minimum necessary activities to maintain the value of the business’ inventory, preserve the physical condition of the business, ensure security, process payroll and employee benefits, and facilitate telecommuting.
He also said housing evictions in the state are suspended and that all in-person government activities at the state, county and local level that are not necessary to sustain life are suspended.
Beshear’s order mostly dealt with which businesses can stay open. They are:
▪ Federal critical infrastructure sector
They include such things as emergency services, dams, chemical plants, health care and food service.
▪ Life-sustaining retail
Beshear has said they include grocery stores, drug stores, pharmacies, banks and several other businesses.
The new order Wednesday expanded that list to include hardware stores and businesses that sell electrical, plumbing and heating material; agricultural supply and equipment stores; medical product supply and equipment stores; and stores that supply first responders and other critical government and health care workers.
The order said retail stores that remain open must try to permit customers to use delivery or curbside service.
▪ Food, beverage and agriculture
The order said food and beverage manufacturing, production, processing and cultivation is allowed. This includes farming, livestock, fishing, baking and other production agriculture, including cultivation, marketing, production and distribution of animals and goods for eating. Also, animal shelters, rescue shelters, kennels and animal adoption facilities can remain open.
▪ Organizations that provide charitable and social services
This includes businesses and religious and secular non-profits, including food banks.
▪ Media
Newspapers, television, radio and other media services will continue operating.
▪ Gas stations and businesses needed for transportation
This list includes gas stations and auto supply and repair stores; farm and construction equipment; boat repair; and bicycle and motorcycle repair shops.
▪ Financial services
Included are depository institutions like banks and credit unions and non-depository institutions like mortgage and loan companies, and payday lending companies. Also on the list are securities institutions like brokers and agents and pawnbrokers, when they provide check-cashing or similar financial services.
▪ Housing, buildings and construction
Businesses providing construction or maintenance of residential, commercial or government structures may remain open. These include plumbers, electricians, exterminators, cleaning and janitorial staff, security staff, operating engineers, heating and air conditioning, painting, landscaping and moving services.
▪ Mail, post, shipping, logistics, delivery and pick-up services
Post offices and other businesses that provide shipping and delivery services and businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, beverages, goods or services can continue operating.
▪ Laundry services
This includes laundromats, dry cleaners, industrial laundry services and laundry service providers.
▪ Restaurants for consumption off-premises
Carry-out, delivery and drive-through food and beverage sales may continue.
▪ Supplies for life-sustaining businesses
This includes businesses that sell, manufacture or supply other “life-sustaining businesses,” including computers, audio and video electronics, household appliances, IT and telecommunications equipment, hardware, paint, flat glass, electrical, plumbing and heating material, sanitary equipment, personal hygiene, food, food additives, medical and orthopedic equipment, optics and photography equipment, diagnostics, food and beverages, chemicals, soaps and detergent and firearm and ammunition suppliers and retailers for purposes of safety and security.
▪ Transportation
Airlines, taxis, transportation network providers such as Uber and Lyft, vehicle rental services, paratransit and other private, public and commercial transportation may continue operating.
▪ Home-based care and services
This includes home-based care for people with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, substance use disorders and mental illness.
▪ Professional services
Legal services, accounting services, insurance services, and real estate services, including appraisal and title services, can continue operating. The order said these businesses must implement telecommuting and remote work to the fullest extent possible.
Beshear said at a late Wednesday news conference that real estate services should not have open house showings with large crowds.
▪ Manufacture, distribution and supply chain for critical products and industries
This covers companies producing critical products and services for industries such as pharmaceutical, technology, biotechnology, health care, chemicals, sanitization, waste pickup and disposal, agriculture, food and beverage, transportation, energy, steel, petroleum and fuel, mining, construction, national defense and communications.
▪ Critical labor union functions
These include the administration of health and welfare funds and personnel checking on the well-being and safety of members providing services to life-sustaining businesses.
▪ Hotels and motels
They can remain open to the extent used for lodging and delivery or carry-out food services.
▪ Funeral services
These services have restrictions on mass gathering and should use social distancing that keeps each person 6 feet apart.
The order said Beshear’s prohibition does not apply to virtual or telework operations.
It also says it does not interfere with the lawful sale of firearms and ammunition, but said such businesses, like all others, must follow social distancing and good hygiene as recommended by federal and state health officials.
The order stressed that Beshear’s prior orders relating to businesses remain in effect. Those orders closed entertainment venues and all non-essential retailers to in-person traffic. Restaurants can continue offering drive-thru, takeout and delivery.
Beshear again directed all businesses to let employees work from home whenever possible.
He referred questions about business openings and closings to KYSAFER.KY.GOV or calling 833-597-2337 during business hours.
Steve McClain, a spokesman for the Kentucky Retail Federation, which has about 6,000 members in the state, said Beshear’s order “clears up a lot of questions our members had.”
“We now have a better idea of what can and cannot open while we keep emphasizing to stay six feet apart,” he said.
Ashli Watts, chief executive offier of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, said, “With the latest executive order closing even more businesses across Kentucky, we know this will be extremely difficul for many, especially small business.
“We trust this is what is needed to mitigate further damage from the coronavirus and ensure businesses can reopen as quickly as possible.”
She added that the business organization looks forward to working with Beshear “on the other side of this virus to aggressively get our economy and workforce back on track.”
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 12:30 PM.
