Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.
NOTE: As of May 20, 2020, all states have started lifting closure orders and other restrictions on businesses, typically as part of a gradual reopening process.
AS A RESULT, THIS POST WILL NO LONGER BE UPDATED.
Employers looking for guidance about the next phase should review our interactive map. Employers may also wish to consult this article – Bouncing Back: A List of Statewide Return to Work Protocols – for additional information, as well as our articles identifying face covering and employee health screening requirements.
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Governors and public health officials across the country implemented stringent measures to help contain the spread of COVID-19. The below chart primarily covers jurisdictions where non-essential businesses were closed and public officials have encouraged (if not mandated) residents to stay at home. Generally speaking, the “stay at home” types of orders shuttered all non-essential business operations, permitting employees of non-essential businesses to work from home only, with narrow exceptions. Many also specifically required citizens to remain home at all times, unless engaging in essential activities, such as shopping for food and basic goods, commuting to perform essential work, seeking medical attention, or participating in outdoor activities.
Note that this chart does not include “stay at home” actions at the local level. Nor does it include less restrictive orders that affect only certain businesses, like restaurants or salons, or that apply only to certain counties within a state.
|
State |
Effective Date |
Duration or End Date |
Resources |
|
Alabama |
April 4, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. |
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Alaska |
March 28, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. |
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Arizona |
March 31, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. |
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California |
March 19, 2020 |
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Colorado |
March 26, 2020 at 6:00 a.m. |
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Connecticut |
March 23, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. |
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Delaware |
March 24, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. |
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District of Columbia |
April 1, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. |
June 8, 2020 |
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Florida |
April 3, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. |
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Georgia – for vulnerable individuals only as of May 1 |
April 3, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. |
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Hawaii |
March 25, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. |
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Idaho |
March 25, 2020 |
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Illinois |
March 21, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. |
May 30, 2020 |
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Indiana |
March 24, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. |
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Kansas |
March 30, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. |
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Kentucky* |
March 26, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. |
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Louisiana |
March 23, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. |
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Maine |
April 2, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. |
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Maryland |
March 30, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. |
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Massachusetts* |
March 24, 2020 at 12:00 noon; updated order effective April 1, 2020 at noon |
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Michigan |
March 24, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. |
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Minnesota |
March 27, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. |
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Mississippi |
April 3, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. |
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Missouri1 |
April 6, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. |
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Montana |
March 28, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. |
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Nevada |
April 1, 2020 at midnight |
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New Hampshire |
March 27, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. |
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New Jersey |
March 21, 2020 at 9:00 p.m. |
Until revoked or modified |
|
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New Mexico |
March 23, 2020 |
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New York |
March 22, 2020 |
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North Carolina |
March 30, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. |
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Ohio |
March 23, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. |
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Oklahoma – for vulnerable individuals only |
March 24, 2020 |
May 24, 2020 |
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Oregon |
March 23, 2020 |
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Pennsylvania |
April 1, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. |
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Puerto Rico |
March 15, 2020 |
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Rhode Island |
March 28, 2020 |
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South Carolina |
April 7, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. |
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Tennessee |
March 31, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. |
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Texas |
April 2, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. |
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Vermont |
March 25, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. |
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Virginia |
March 30, 2020 |
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Washington State |
March 23, 2020 |
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West Virginia |
March 24, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. |
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Wisconsin |
March 25, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. |
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Because the COVID-19 situation is dynamic, with new governmental measures each day, employers should consult with counsel for the latest developments and updated guidance.
See Footnotes
* This order closed all non-essential businesses but did not, on its face, require citizens to remain at home. Even if advisory in nature, the order is included here given the extensive business closure and wider government messaging that urges people to stay home.
1 The Missouri order did not require "non-essential" businesses to close. It provided that businesses may remain open but must comply with social distancing and public gathering restrictions (i.e., no more than 10 people may occupy a single space).