What is essential work during a quarantine?

Question

What is essential work during a quarantine?

2 weeks ago

I was referred to you by another company I asked this to. In Florida is a construction company consider essential work while in quarantine? Also what about a lawyers office consider essential work? What about the cleaning crew that cleans the office are we consider essential workers too? Or are they just making us go to work cause they want to.

Michelle Kane

Partner Bennett Legal Group

2 weeks ago

The State of Florida has not issued a “stay at home order” at this time. However, many local jurisdictions such as Orange County, Miami-Dade, Osceola, Broward and Palm Beach Counties have issued local orders and may vary from County to County. In Orange County, construction appears to be on a project by project basis. Legal Services are exempt; however, many law firms have decided to work remotely if they have the IT tools in place to do so. Good question as to cleaning crews. They are not listed in our local order so I doubt they would be exempt, but I could see a good argument for cleaning crews for businesses that are staying open, and have to maintain certain sanitary conditions. Cleaning crews would have to maintain the distancing rules, et.

Helpful Unhelpful

Marisa Portuondo

Attorney Portuondo Law Firm

1 review

2 weeks ago

This may depend on your city and county rules. In Miami-Dade, the current list can be found here: https://www.miamidade.gov/information/library/coronavirus-emergency-order-07-20-businesses.pdf. An “open” construction site is currently considered essential in Miami-Dade. As for cleaning companies, you may fall under section 2(i) but it is not 100% clear.

This information can change from day to day, here is the website for the most current information (again, for Miami-Dade): http://www.miamidade.gov/global/initiatives/coronavirus/home.page

If you are not in Miami-Dade, I would check your local rules, there should be information online.

Helpful Unhelpful

Oscar Soto

Managing Partner The Soto Law Group, P.A.

2 weeks ago

It depends on the municipality that construction resides on. I have attached a couple of posts that you may find helpful. This post shows general bans and restrictions of different States and municipalities. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/oscar-e-soto-77949a16_covid-19-state-and-local-bans-and-restriction-activity-6648574300691456001-rAQz
This is another link that shows where homebuilders can stay on Jobsite.
https://www.nahb.org/Advocacy/Industry-Issues/Emergency-Preparedness-and-Response/Coronavirus-Preparedness/Stay-on-the-Jobsite
Hope this helps.

Helpful Unhelpful

Oscar Soto

Managing Partner The Soto Law Group, P.A.

2 weeks ago

It depends on the municipality that construction resides on. I have attached a couple of posts that you may find helpful. This post shows general bans and restrictions of different States and municipalities. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/oscar-e-soto-77949a16_covid-19-state-and-local-bans-and-restriction-activity-6648574300691456001-rAQz

This is another link that shows where homebuilders can stay on Jobsite.
https://www.nahb.org/Advocacy/Industry-Issues/Emergency-Preparedness-and-Response/Coronavirus-Preparedness/Stay-on-the-Jobsite
Hope this helps.

Helpful Unhelpful

Jason Lambert · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-01

Earlier today, Governor Desantis issued an executive order addressing this and construction is generally an essential order. Under the order, Essential Services are listed in three separate places: (1) the US Dep’t of Homeland Security’s guidance on critical infrastructure workforce, (2) the businesses and activities listed in Executive Order 20-89, and (3) other essential services approved by the State Coordinating Officer and the State Health Officer.

First, construction is most clearly allowed under item #2 above – the list in Executive Order 20-89, which allows the following construction related activities:

– Contractors and other tradesmen, appliance repair personnel, exterminators, and other service providers who provider services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences and other structures;
– Landscape and pool care businesses, including residential landscape and pool care services;
– Open construction sites, irrespective of the type of building;
– Architectural, engineering, or land surveying services.

Second, construction is also allowed under item #1 above. Most of that list can be found at http://www.cisa.gov, but it can be vague. Many specific types of construction are allowed, for example telecommunications towers. But, under the public works and infrastructure support services, the following are specifically allowed, which should encompass most construction:

– Workers such as plumbers, electricians, exterminators, builders, contractors, HVAC technicians, landscapers, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences, businesses, and buildings such as hospitals, senior living facilities, any temporary construction required to support COVID-19 response.
– Workers in hardware and building material stores, consumer electronics, technology and appliances retail, and related merchant wholesalers and distributors.
– Workers performing housing construction related activities
– Workers supporting the construction of housing, including those supporting government functions related to the building and development process, such as inspections, permitting and plan review services, etc..

Third, the State Coordinator’s list will be available at http://www.floridadisaster.org and http://www.floridahealth.gov. Nothing new is listed on either website yet, but you should check there for updates.

If you want to download a copy of the order, visit https://hammerngavel.com/blog/governor-desantis-issues-statewide-stay-at-home-order-commercial-and-residential-construction-still-deemed-essential-businesses

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.