Washington: Stay Home Proclamation Due to COVID-19

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has issued a Stay Home – Stay Healthy Proclamation that restricts certain social and recreational activities, closes non-essential businesses, and requires social distancing at essential businesses. Under the Proclamation, starting at 12:00 a.m. on March 25, 2020, all non-essential businesses in Washington must close. The Proclamation remains in place until at least April 6, 2020.

However, employees at non-essential businesses may continue performing the basic minimum operations necessary to maintain the value of business inventory, to preserve the condition of the physical plant and equipment, to ensure security, to process payroll and employee benefits, to help employees telework from their homes, and related functions.

The Governor has released a list of businesses that qualify as “essential” under this Proclamation. These essential businesses may stay open, but they must establish and implement social distancing and sanitation measures established by the federal and state governments.

The Proclamation prohibits individuals from participating activities for social, spiritual, and recreational purposes, regardless of the number of people involved, including community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, or sporting events; parades; concerts; festivals; conventions; fundraisers; weddings; funeral events; and similar activities.

Individuals may leave their homes to engage in the following activities:

• Obtaining necessary supplies and services for family/household members and pets;
• Seeking medical or behavioral health or emergency services, or obtaining medical supplies or medication;
• Caring for a family member, friend, or pet in another home, or transporting them for essential health and safety activities, or obtaining necessary supplies and services; and
• Outdoor exercise, but only with social distancing.

Jackson Lewis has a dedicated team tracking and responding to the developing issues facing employers in this difficult time. If you need guidance in handling the complicated issues pertaining to COVID-19 and related business closures, contact a Jackson Lewis attorney to discuss.