Here’s a list of ‘essential services’ under Florida’s shutdown

Under an order Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued that starts today, “all persons in Florida shall limit their movements and personal interactions outside of their home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities.”

So what is an “essential” service or activity?

The list is extensive.

In his order, DeSantis lists a few specific ones: attending religious services at churches, synagogues and houses of worship; participating in recreational activities, consistent with social distancing principles, such as walking, biking, hiking, fishing, hunting, running or swimming; taking care of pets; and caring for or otherwise assisting a loved one or friend.

DeSantis’s order also says essential services include those on a list kept by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and which MIami-Dade County has detailed in several orders issued there.

The Miami-Dade list includes:

• Healthcare providers, including, but not limited to, hospitals, doctors, dentists, urgent care centers, clinics, rehabilitation facilities, physical therapists, mental health professionals, therapists and pharmacists.
• Grocery stores, farmers markets, farm and produce stands, food banks, convenience stores and other establishments that sell canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh meats and poultry and any other household consumer products, such as cleaning supplies.
• Food cultivation, including farming, livestock and fishing.
• Businesses that provide food, shelter, social services and other necessities of life.
• Newspapers, television, radio and other media.
• Gas stations and auto-supply, auto-repair and related facilities.
• Hardware stores.
• Contractors and other tradesmen, appliance repair personnel, exterminators and other services needed to maintain a residence.
• Businesses providing mailing and shipping services, including post office boxes.
• Private colleges, trade schools and technical colleges, but only as needed to facilitate distance learning.
• Laundromats, dry cleaners and laundry service providers.
• Restaurants (take-out and/or delivery only).
• School food giveaways.
• Office supply stores.
• Businesses that supply other essential businesses with the support or supplies needed to operate and which do not interact with the public.
• Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods or services directly to residences.
• Airlines, taxis and other private transportation providers via automobile, truck, bus or train.
• Home-based care for seniors, adults or children.
• Assisted living facilities, nursing homes and adult day care centers and senior residential facilities.
• Professional services, such as law or accounting firms, when needed to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities.
• Landscape and pool care businesses.
• Childcare facilities meeting certain conditions.
• Businesses operating at any airport, seaports or other government facility, including parks and government offices.
• Pet supply stores.
• Logistic providers, including warehouses, trucking, consolidators, fumigators and handlers.
• Telecommunications providers.
• Propane and natural gas companies.
• Office and administrative support needed to perform any of the above.
• Open construction sites.
• Architectural, engineering or land surveying services.
• Factories, manufacturing facilities, bottling plants other industrial uses.
• Waste management services.
• Any business that is interactive with customers solely through electronic or telephonic means, and delivering products via mailing, shipping or delivery services.

DeSantis’s order says the Florida Department of Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Health will publish any approved additions to the list.

To see the U.S. Department of Homeland Security list, go here.

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