Nixon under ‘stay home – work safe’ order

In response to the first confirmed case of COVID-19 near the Nixon area, the city of Nixon issued a “stay home – work safe” order that began Tuesday night and will continue until April 7, unless terminated or modified by a subsequent order.

All individuals currently living in Nixon are told to stay home, leaving their residences only to perform "essential activities" to "essential businesses" as listed in the order.

Persons who violate the order may be punishable by criminal or civil enforcement. A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days.

According to the order, “all public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or dwelling unit are prohibited, except for the limited purposes as expressly permitted.”

Essential activities include:

• Health and safety, meaning any tasks essential to an individual’s health and safety
• Obtaining necessary supplies and services such as groceries
• Outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, bicycling or running, provided the individuals comply with the social distancing requirements
• Certain types of work that provides essential products and services as defined
• Taking care of family members or pets in another household.

Essential businesses include:

• Healthcare operations such as caregivers, hospitals, pharmacies, dentists, mental health providers and veterinaries. Fitness and exercise gyms are not included in the order.
• Stores that sell groceries and certain other essential supplies.
• Food cultivation including farming, livestock and fishing.
• Social services and charitable organizations.
• News media.
• Gas stations and businesses need for transportation including automobile dealerships, auto-repair and other related facilities
• Financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies.
• Hardware and supply stores.
• Critical trades such as plumbers, electricians and exterminators.
• Mail and delivery services.
• Laundry services.
• Restaurants for consumption off-premises that prepare and serve food, but only for delivery or carry out. Schools and other entities that provide free food services to students or members of the public may continue to do so.
• Supplies to work from home.
• Supplies for essential businesses.
• Food delivery services.
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• Home-based care and services.
• Residential facilities and shelters.
• Professionals services such as legal or accounting services and real estate services when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities or to further essential businesses, essential government functions or critical infrastructure
• Information technology services.
• Moving supply services.
• Hotels and motels.
• Funeral services, provided that social distance is maintained to the greatest extent possible.
• Educational institutions provided that social distancing is maintained.
• Childcare facilities, provided that childcare is carried out in “stable” groups of 10 or fewer (stable means that the same 10 or fewer children are in the same group each day), children shall not change from one group to another, if more than one group of children is cared for at one facility, each group shall be in a separate room, groups shall not mix with each other and childcare providers shall remain solely with one group of children.