• Home
  • >
  • >
  • Town issues ‘Safer at Home Executive Order’

Town issues ‘Safer at Home Executive Order’

To further combat the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), Collierville Mayor Stan Joyner issued a Safer at Home Executive Order that went into effect at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. 

The Safer at Home Order asks all Collierville residents to stay inside their homes and limit leaving their homes beyond what is necessary to take care of essential needs.

On those occasions when residents are out of their homes for essential activities, they are urged to stay at least six feet away from others.

“The Safer at Home Order is to further protect the community to help to slow down the spread of COVID-19,” said Joyner. “Please do not leave your homes unless it is absolutely necessary. We have to commit to these actions together to protect ourselves and each other.”

To further combat the spread of COVID-19, the Town of Collierville issued a Safer at Home Executive Order — asking all residents of Collierville to stay inside their homes, and immediately limit all movement outside of their homes beyond what is absolutely necessary to take care of essential needs. Please reference the below FAQs for all questions regarding the Safer at Home Order.

If you have additional questions, reach out to us: [email protected] of Collierville are required to stay inside their homes unless they are engaged in certain “essential activities” or “essential travel.”

On those occasions when you are out of your home for necessary tasks, stay at least six feet away from others. Businesses defined as essential will be allowed to remain open, but are required to comply with Social Distancing Requirements.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN:• Go to the grocery, convenience or warehouse store• Go to the pharmacy to pick up medications and other healthcare necessities• Go to medical appointments (check with your doctor or provider first)

• Go to a restaurant for take-out, delivery or drive-thru

• Care for child, family member, elderly, or pet

• Take a walk, ride your bike, hike, jog and be in nature for exercise — just keep at least six feet between you and others.

• Walk your pets and take them to the veterinarian if necessary• Help someone to get necessary supplies

• Receive deliveries from any business which deliversFOR EXAMPLE, YOU SHOULD NOT:

• Go to work unless you are providing essential services as defined by this Order

• Visit friends and family if there is no urgent need

• Visit loved ones in the hospital, nursing home, skilled nursing facility or other residential care facility, except for limited exceptions as provided on the facility websites.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is this Order mandatory?

Yes. This is a legally enforceable order.Are there curfews attached to this order?

No.Do I need a letter or voucher to travel on Town streets and highways?

No, a letter or voucher is not required to travel. A letter from your employer is not required to travel to and from work.

Why is this happening now?This Safer at Home Order is being issued now because it is urgent that we slow and stop the spread of COVID-19 in Collierville and Shelby County.

The virus spreads easily, and this Order is also intended to prevent the disease from overwhelming our healthcare system.

The goal here is to “flatten the curve” to slow down the spread of the virus and ensure we have adequate health care resources for those who get sick with COVID-19 and those who need emergency medical care for accidents, heart attacks, strokes, and other routine medical conditions.What is the difference between “Safer at Home” and “social distancing”?

Safer at home is a stricter form of social distancing. There are some differences. Safer at Home means:

• Stay home (stay unexposed and do not expose others)

• Only go out for essential services

• Don’t gather in groupsSocial Distancing is the practice of staying at least six feet away from others when you are in public, and not going out in public if you feel sick. 

Whether in public or at home, everyone should regularly wash hands, use hand sanitizer, and disinfect surfaces.

When does the Order go into effect?The Order goes into effect Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 6 p.m.The Order is in effect until April 7, 2020.

The Town will closely monitor the situation every day to determine if the Executive Order needs to be extended.What are Essential

Activities?Essential Activities are those activities or tasks that are essential to your health and safety, including:

• Performing work to provide products or services to an Essential Business

• Outdoor activities, such as walking your dog

• Performing administrative functions for a business, such as payroll or other tasks needed for the safety of the employees or the building, such as maintenanceWhat is “Essential Travel?”

Essential travel includes:

• Any travel related to Essential Activities and Essential Businesses

• Travel to care for elderly, children, or other persons needing care

• Travel to and from your homeWhat businesses that will stay open?All Essential Businesses will remain open, but must adhere to Social Distancing Requirements. This is a list of examples of businesses that may remain open. This is not an exhaustive list:Food and Drug

• Grocery and beverage stores (including stores that sale grocery and non-grocery items necessary for maintaining the safety, sanitation and essential operations of residents)

• Restaurants/bars (only for take-out/delivery)

• Pharmacies

• Convenience stores

• Farmer’s markets

• Food banks

• Food cultivation, including farming, livestock and fishingHealth/Medical

• Research and laboratory services

• Hospitals

• Walk-in-care health facilities

• Emergency veterinary and livestock services

• Elder care

• Home health care workers or aides for the elderly, children and people with disabilities

• Dental services

• Optometrist

• Nursing homes or residential health care facilities

• Blood banks

• Veterinarian and dog groomingTransportation & Logistics

• Gas stations

• Buses• Taxis• Private transportation providers (Uber and Lyft)

• Airlines/airports

• Mail and shipping services

• Auto repair shops

• Auto Dealers/Retail

• Auto Parts Retailer

• Warehouse/distribution and fulfillment• Ride Share• Bicycle retail/repairHousing and Real Estate• Property management company (Residential and Commercial)• Commercial and residential construction• Planning, surveying, engineering, design firms• Real estate agents/services• Home or building cleaning and maintenance• Skilled trades such as electricians, HVAC, and plumbers• Hardware storesServices• Daycare and childcare services• Waste disposal and recycling• Laundromats, dry cleaners and laundry services• Funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries• Lawn care• Pest control• Locksmiths• Legal services• Alarm and security companies• Businesses that provide services that are necessary to maintain the sanitation, safety, and essential operation of residences and businesses, such as maintenance on HVACHuman/Charitable Services• Child care services• Homeless shelters• Businesses that provide food, shelter, social services and other necessities for those in need• Services that provide drug/alcohol/mental health counseling and supportManufacturing• Medical wholesale and distribution• Hardware and building material stores• Medical equipment/instruments• Food processing, manufacturing agents• Chemical plants• Pharmaceuticals• Paper goods/cardboard• Sanitary products• Microelectronics/semi-conductorGovernment• Federal and state offices and services, including post offices and airports• Essential Memphis government functions including law enforcement, transportation, and businesses that provide government programs and servicesOther• Banks and other Financial institutions• Insurance• Cell Phone and electronic stores• Office supply stores• Businesses that provide goods and services exclusively deliver through curb side pickup, drive-thru, shipment or delivery. (This includes any business that did not previously provide goods and services as described but now developed and implemented these delivery methods.)• Newspaper/mediaWhat businesses are required to close?This is a list of examples of businesses that must close. This is not an exhaustive list:Non-essential Services• Personal appearance businesses (hair salons, eyelash salons, barber shop, tattoo shop, body piercing shop, day spas)• Retail with no exclusive delivery or curb-side pick-up• Entertainment and recreation facilities (bowling alleys, trampoline parks)• Indoor rock climbing• Craft/Art Business• Gyms, including yoga, barre and spin facilities• Concert venues• Theaters• Movie theaters• Shopping malls• Golf courses• Sporting event venues• Skating rink• Dance Schools• Private Clubs (except for the provision of food for take-out)What about Government Employees?This Order does not apply to employees of government agencies working within the course and scope of their public service employment. Employees of the Town of Collierville shall follow any current or future directives issued by the Mayor.What about infrastructure and construction?Individuals may leave their residences to provide any services or goods or perform any work necessary to the operations, maintenance and manufacturing of essential infrastructure, including without limitation:• Construction of commercial and institutional buildings, and residential buildings and housing• Airport operations, food supply, concessions, and construction• Water, sewer, gas, electrical, oil extraction and refining• Roads, highways, public transportation and rail• Solid waste collection and removal• Flood control and watershed protection• Internet and telecommunications systems (including the provision of essential global, national, and local infrastructure for computing services, business infrastructure, communications, and web-based services)• And manufacturing and distribution companies deemed essential to the supply chains of the above industriesWhat about churches or places of worship?Churches, synagogues, and all other places of worship are not allowed to have gatherings of more than 10 people. Places of worship may operate for the purposes of providing food, shelter and other necessities for individuals in need, such as victims of domestic violence and the homeless.Can this Order be changed?Yes. The Order can and will likely be updated as conditions warrant. Follow updates at collierville.com/covid-19. We will also share new updates with the media.What if I need to visit a health care provider?Do not go to the emergency room unless you have an actual emergency. If you feel sick, please first call your doctor, a nurse hotline or an urgent care center.For purposes of this Executive Order, individuals may leave their residence to work for or obtain services at any health care provider, including hospitals, clinics, dentists, mental health providers, physical therapists and chiropractors or any related and/or ancillary healthcare services, manufacturers and suppliers.Can I still get deliveries?Yes. The mail and other delivery services to your home can continue to function, as can food delivery services. Businesses that deliver goods or services directly to residences may continue to operate. Just keep six feet between you and the person delivering the item.Can I use ride share, on demand service, or a taxi?Yes, but only for essential travel. You should avoid being in a vehicle with multiple people. In circumstances under which such transportation is needed, you must practice social distancing, cover your mouth and nose if you cough or sneeze, use hand sanitizer or wash your hands before and after rides.Can I still seek non-essential medical care and doctor’s appointments?Please contact your healthcare provider to determine which visits or procedures you should attend. Each of the health systems in Collierville and Shelby County are providing guidance about medical care and doctor’s appointments.Should I stock up on food, necessities like toilet paper and medicines?No. Grocery stores will remain open. You will continue to be able to purchase these items whenever you need them. Grocery stores, pharmacies, and hardware stores will remain open and are frequently restocking.Please continue to buy normal quantities of these items on the same schedule you normally do. This will ensure that there is enough for everyone.Does the Order allow me to have my children in childcare? Will my daycare be shut down?Daycare and childcare business will remain open, but will prioritize children of parents working in essential services.Are non-profit organizations allowed to continue operating?Yes, but only if they provide essential services as described in the order. This would include non-profit operating food pantries, providing housing and services for homeless residents and many other critical services.Are landlords required to maintain property during this Order?Yes. Property owners, property management companies and landlords are required to maintain the premises they oversee.I am currently on vacation outside of Memphis. Does the Order allow me to return home?Yes. You should maintain social distancing on your way home, and then you will be subject to the limitations in this Order. If you prefer to stay indoors at your current location, you are encouraged to follow this Executive Order while outside of Memphis in order to protect yourself and others.What happens if I leave Memphis to go on a planned vacation?The Order requires that you stay in your place of residence. Traveling runs the risk of spreading the virus to other areas and exposing new populations. As explained above, if you live outside of Memphis, you are allowed to travel to and from work if your work is essential business, or if you need to travel to Memphis, for another essential service like medical appointment.I’m visiting and staying in a hotel, with family/friends, or in a short-term rental. What should I do? Can I go home?If you have a car and can return home via travel, you may do so if you are following social distancing protocols. If you have a flight or other travel, you should check first with the carrier to see if they are still operating and what protocols they recommend. You are strongly encouraged to shelter in place when you arrive at your destination to avoid infecting anyone else in your home community.If you need to stay longer, coordinate with your accommodations as best you can.What do I do about my kids? I have to work.The Order allows you to take steps necessary to take your children to authorized childcare. Otherwise, you should address childcare needs as you are able given the constraints of the situation.Can I leave home to exercise?If you will be both outdoors and not in close contact with people, yes. Otherwise, no, because fitness and exercise gyms and similar facilities will be closed.If my child’s school is providing food or meals, can I leave home to go to the school to pick up the food or meals?Yes.Can I go shopping for things other than food/groceries?Yes. You can shop for anything that is related to health care, office supplies, hardware supplies, and at businesses listed as essential in the Order. You should minimize unnecessary tripsCan I go to the bank?Yes, but avoid unnecessary trips.Can I go out to do laundry or have my laundry done?Yes.I work for an essential infrastructure organization–can I leave home to go to work?Yes. “Essential Infrastructure” includes, but is not limited to, water, sewer, gas, electrical, roads and highways, construction, public transportation, internet, and telecommunications systems (including the provisions of essential infrastructure for competing services, business infrastructure, communications, and web-based services).Can I go to a bar/theater?No. Entertainment venues like these are not permitted to be open during this Order.Can I go to a restaurant, cafe, coffee or tea shop, ice cream shop, or other foodservice location?Yes, but only to pick-up takeout, curbside or go to a drive through. You cannot dine-in or eat or drink at the facility. Patrons will not be permitted to dine or congregate in restaurants, bars, and similar establishments.Can I go to the gym or health club?No. Gyms, health clubs and other exercise facilities (such yoga studios) as are closed.Can I walk my dog/pet?Yes. Be sure that you distance yourself at least six feet from other pets and owners.Can I go to a vet or pet hospital if my pet is sick?Yes. Please call first to determine if there are any restrictions in place.What if my plumbing gets stopped up or there is another problem with necessary equipment at my home? How will I access those services?Call your plumber or building manager. This Order allows service providers like plumbers, electricians, carpenters, exterminators and building managers to keep working and providing their services to the public. To obtain supplies for a DIY solution, you can also visit hardware stores, which are allowed to stay open under this Order.What if I want to go to work and I’m not sick?Unless your work includes an essential function, you cannot go to work. Your employer may require you to work from home.

Related Posts

The Collierville Herald-Independent strives every day to bring the people of Collierville news that impacts their lives, allowing them to make more informed decisions on a daily basis.
Contact us: [email protected]