SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The city of Springfield Mayor Ken McClure and Greene County Presiding Commissioner Bob Dixon and leaders announced a "stay-at-home" order.

The order goes into effect March 26 at 12:01 a.m. The order will last for thirty days.

Leaders ask you to stay at home unless you are considered an essential employee, shopping for essential services for goods or exercising outside. Major categories of essential businesses defined in the order include:

• Health care (doctors, dentists, nurses, hospitals, pharmacies, medical research facilities,

blood donation services, labs, etc);

• Food and drink production and distribution (including grocery stores, markets,

restaurants that offer food for carryout, liquor stores);

• Sanitation (including laundromats, dry cleaners, household and business cleaning

services and supply stores);

• Transportation (including railroads, airports, public transit, taxis and other private

transportation providers);

• Auto repair and service, including gas stations and auto supply stores;

• Financial Services (including banks, insurance providers, and professional services required to comply with legal and regulatory requirements);

• Manufacturing and distribution of supplies and materials for essential businesses (including trucking and other supply chain support functions);

• Maintenance and construction of infrastructure and households;

• Building supply stores

• Childcare;

• Essential Government Operations;

• Residential care facilities

• Hotels and motels;

• Media and Communications Providers; and

• Mailing, Shipping, and Delivery services.

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Springfield Missouri Stay at Home Order FAQ

Why was this order issued?

The Stay-At-Home Emergency Order was issued to protect the health and safety of all residents of Springfield, with the goal of limiting the continued community spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. It was issued based on the guidance of public health experts, as well as consultations with area medical leaders about the consequences of continued community spread of coronavirus in the Springfield metropolitan region on health care availability and access.

How long is the order in effect for?

The new emergency order will take effect at 12:01 AM on Thursday, March 26, 2020 and will remain in effect through 11:59 PM on April 24, 2020. The order will be evaluated on an ongoing basis and may be modified as circumstances change based on guidance from public health officials and other experts.

What does this order require?

The order requires Springfield residents to stay at home unless they are engaged in one of the essential activities specified in the order. Essential activities include working in an essential business, obtaining supplies or necessary services, seeking medical care, caring for a family member or loved one, and exercising and maintaining personal health. Individuals are strongly encouraged to practice physical distancing to the extent feasible while engaging in these activities, and to stay home if not engaging in one of these specific activities.

Will residents be subject to penalties such as arrest or citations for leaving their homes?

Residents can leave their residences to engage in essential activities, including exercising and maintaining personal health (walking/bicycling/running/etc.), working at an essential business, obtaining supplies or necessary services, or seeking medical care. We strongly urge Springfieldians to stay at home if they are not engaged in any of these essential activities as this will greatly aid efforts to stop the community spread of COVID-19. That said, there are penalties of up to a $1000 fine and our up to 180 days in jail.

Does my business qualify as an essential business as defined in the emergency order?

Major categories of essential businesses defined in the order include:

• Health care (doctors, dentists, nurses, hospitals, pharmacies, medical research facilities,

blood donation services, labs, etc);

• Food and drink production and distribution (including grocery stores, markets,

restaurants that offer food for carryout, liquor stores);

• Sanitation (including laundromats, dry cleaners, household and business cleaning

services and supply stores);

• Transportation (including railroads, airports, public transit, taxis and other private

transportation providers);

• Auto repair and service, including gas stations and auto supply stores;

• Financial Services (including banks, insurance providers, and professional services required to comply with legal and regulatory requirements);

• Manufacturing and distribution of supplies and materials for essential businesses (including trucking and other supply chain support functions);

• Maintenance and construction of infrastructure and households;

• Building supply stores

• Childcare;

• Essential Government Operations;

• Residential care facilities

• Hotels and motels;

• Media and Communications Providers; and

• Mailing, Shipping, and Delivery services.

>>8550239

A full list of categories of essential businesses is provided in the order.

The City strongly encourages all essential businesses to allow employees to work from home and to maintain social distancing to the extent feasible in continuing to carry out their operations.

My business does not fall under one of the categories deemed essential, can it remain open if health precautions are taken?

Non-essential businesses can continue operations that can be conducted from employees’ homes or places of rest. They can also continue minimum necessary activities to maintain the value of the business’s inventory and facilities and to ensure security, process payroll and employee benefits, or for related functions, as well as minimum necessary activities to facilitate employees of the business being able to continue to work remotely from their residences or places of rest, provided social distancing is maintained. Any operations that do not meet these requirements must be ceased.

Do businesses and/or employees need formal certification or identification that they qualify as an essential business and/or are employed at an essential business?

No.

I am unclear whether my business qualifies as essential or non-essential. Can I receive a formal recommendation from the City as to whether I qualify?

Currently guidance is available on a general (industry) basis and not a case by case (specific business) basis. We encourage all business owners to review the order in its entirety if they believe there is ambiguity about whether they qualify as essential or not.

If you are unsure if you are an essential business, please call 417-799-1570, complete this form or email questions to City@springfieldmo.gov.

What are the penalties for non-compliance of this order?

Up to $1000 and up to 180 days in jail.

BUN >>8550226, >>8550239, >>8550246

Springfield, MO Stay at home order

$1000 fine/180 days in jail March 26, 2020-April 24, 2020

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