What you need to know about Mississippi’s shelter-in-place order

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed a statewide Shelter in Place executive order on Wednesday, April 1. That order goes into effect today, Friday, April 3, at 5 p.m. and is effect until Monday, April 20, at 8 a.m.

The latest order was similar to an order Reeves issued on March 24, which provided several recommendations to curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Mississippi.

The newest order makes many of those recommendations into orders, putting some teeth into them, and adds a few more provisions. Regardless, the orders are aimed at non-essential workers. The governor has not changed the long list of essential industries and services that exempts many of Mississippi’s workers and businesses from the orders.

Among the new provisions:

• All residents of Mississippi must stay at home or in their current place of residence.
• Even when outdoors, Mississippians must maintain social distancing of 6 feet or more and avoid gatherings in groups of more than 10 people.
• Any public or private non-essential gatherings of more than 10 people in a single space must be cancelled or rescheduled.
• Evictions are suspended; however, the order does not relieve people of their obligations to pay rent or make mortgage payments.
• Local law enforcement must assist people whose residence is or becomes unsafe (for example, because of domestic violence, lack of sanitation or utilities) to secure alternative locations.

How the order affects businesses:

• All non-essential businesses and non-profits must stop operating except for minimal operations such as making payroll, property and equipment maintenance, or security. Businesses can also facilitate those working remotely from home.
• Fitness and exercise gyms. dance studios, clubs, tattoo parlors, spas, salons, barber shops, and other similar personal care and grooming facilities are not essential and must close.
• Restaurants and bars can stay open; however, no sit-down services are allowed. Services are limited to drive-thru, curbside and/or deliveries.
• All amusement and recreation spaces, outdoor or indoor, must be closed. That includes parks and rides, museums, playgrounds, children’s party and play facilities, parks (including beaches, lakes and reservoirs), movie theaters, bowling alleys and social clubs.

What stays open:

• Essential businesses and services, such as health care, grocery stores and gas stations will remain open. (See the full list of essential businesses and services here)
• Public walking trails will remain open.

What you can do:

• Anything that is necessary to health and safety for you, your family, your pets and those unable to leave home.
• Buy food, services or supplies to maintain health and safety, or deliver those service and goods to people unable to leave home.
• Go outside for individual activities and recreation. Walk, run, garden, etc. on your own.
• Travel for essential activities, including caring for the elderly, minors, dependents, people with disabilities or other vulnerable people, and to comply with court orders including custody agreements.
• Travel to pick up educational materials for distance learning, or to receive meals from an educational institution.

What happens if you defy the order?

Under state law, if you are convicted, you could spend up to six months in jail, pay a fine of up to $500, or both.

County and municipal authorities may impose additional fines for provisions that go beyond the governor’s order. In Vicksburg, for example, a fine of up to $1,000 can be levied for disobeying provisions in the city-wide COVID-19 proclamation.

Read the governor’s shelter-in-place executive order below. Click on an image to enlarge it: