Construction is deemed essential and generally exempt from the “stay at home” requirement. The term “construction” is to be construed broadly to avoid any impacts on essential infrastructure. This includes:
- Building and Construction Tradesmen and Tradeswomen, and other trades including but not limited to plumbers, electricians, carpenters, laborers, sheet metal, iron workers, masonry, pipe trades, fabricators, finishers, exterminators, pesticide application, cleaning and janitorial staff for commercial and governmental properties, security staff, operating engineers, HVAC, painting, moving and relocation services, forestry and arborists, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences, Essential Activities, Essential Governmental Functions, and Essential Businesses and Operations.
- Construction required in response to this public health emergency, hospital construction, construction of long-term care and assisted living facilities, public works construction, school construction, essential business and operations construction, construction necessary for essential government functions, and housing construction. The EO recommended that optional or aesthetic construction should be avoided.
Ancillary Businesses also deemed essential:
- Building management and maintenance,
- Highways, railroads and public transportation.
- Financial institutions and services
- Hardware and supplies stores. Hardware stores and businesses that sell electrical, plumbing, heating and construction material.
- Mail, post, shipping, logistics, delivery and pick-up services.
- Transportation. Airlines, taxis, transportation network providers (such as Uber and Lyft), vehicle rental services, paratransit and other private, public, and commercial transportation and logistics providers.
- Professional services. Legal or accounting services, insurance services, real estate services (including appraisal, home inspection and title services).
All essential businesses to the greatest extent possible, are encouraged to use technology to avoid meeting in person and engage in social distancing.
