As of 8 p.m. Monday, March 23, all in-person retail businesses in Kentucky that are not "life-sustaining" have been ordered to close.
An executive order by Gov. Andy Beshear mandated that closure for the duration of Kentucky's state of emergency or until he rescinds it.
This is all to help curb the spread of COVID-19. As of 5 p.m. March 23, Kentucky had 124 reported, confirmed cases of the virus. (You can find daily updates on that number at govstatus.egov.com/kycovid19.)
So what are "life-sustaining" retail businesses?
According to a post on Gov. Beshear's website, they are "grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, hardware stores, gas stations and other businesses that provide staple goods."
A more detailed list provided in the order includes these as necessary retail:
- Automotive parts, repair, accessories and tire stores
- Auto, truck and van rental
- Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers
- Banks, credit unions, check cashing, wire transfer and other financial services
- Grocery stores, supermarkets, specialty food stores, meat markets, fish and seafood markets, fruit and vegetable markets and beer, wine and liquor stores
- Pharmacies and drug stores
- Gas stations and convenience stores
- General merchandise stores including warehouse clubs and supercenters
- Pet and pet supply stores
Those that are required to close include businesses offering "entertainment, sporting goods, clothing, shoe, jewelry and furniture stores, florists, bookstores and auto dealers."
If a store is allowed to remain open, it must follow the CDC's and Kentucky Department of Health's social distancing and hygiene recommendations to the "fullest extent practicable." That means staying six feet apart, requiring sick people to leave work and following sanitation measures like washing your hands and disinfecting surfaces.
For more information, visit governor.ky.gov.
