DC Mayor's Order: Obtain Text

image_to_text.R

install.packages("tesseract")
text <- tesseract::ocr("Mayor's Order 2020-054 Stay at Home.pdf")
write(text, "Mayor's Order 2020-054 Stay at Home.txt")

Mayor's Order 2020-054 Stay at Home.txt

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUANCE SYSTEM
Mayor’s Order 2020-054
March 30, 2020

SUBJECT: Stay at Home Order

ORIGINATING AGENCY: Office of the Mayor

By virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the District of Columbia pursuant to section

422 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973, Pub. L. 93-198,

87 Stat. 790, D.C. Official Code § 1-204.22 (2016 Repl.); in accordance with the COVID-19

Response Emergency Amendment Act of 2020, effective March 17, 2020, D.C. Act 23-247, and

any substantially similar subsequent emergency or temporary legislation; section 5 of the

District of Columbia Public Emergency Act of 1980, effective March 5, 1981, D.C. Law 3-149,

D.C. Official Code § 7-2304 (2018 Repl.); section 5a of the District of Columbia Public

Emergency Act of 1980, effective October 17, 2002, D.C. Law 14-194, D.C. Official Code § 7-

2304.01 (2018 Repl.); and section 1 of An Act To Authorize the Commissioners of the District

of Columbia to make regulations to prevent and control the spread of communicable and

preventable diseases, approved August 11, 1939, 53 Stat. 1408, D.C. Official Code §§ 7-131 et

seq. (2012 Repl.), it is hereby ORDERED that:

I. BACKGROUND

l. This Order is issued based on the increasing number of confirmed cases of
COVID-19 within Washington, DC, and throughout the metropolitan
Washington region. Scientific evidence and public health practices show that the
most effective approach to slowing the community transmission of
communicable diseases like COVID-19 is through social distancing. The age and
health of a significant portion of the population of Washington, DC, places
thousands of residents at risk for serious health complications, including death,
from COVID-19.
2. Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, Mayor’s Order 2020-045, dated

March 11, 2020, and Mayor’s Order 2020-046, dated March 11, 2020 issued
declarations of a public emergency and public health emergency. Mayor’s Order
2020-050, dated March 20, 2020, extended those declarations of a public
emergency and public health emergency through April 24, 2020. Mayor’s Order
2020-048, dated March 16, 2020, Mayor’s Order 2020-051, dated March 20,
2020, Mayor’s Order 2020-053, dated March 24, 2020, and several directives
from the Department of Health provided for additional steps required to protect
public health. The COVID-19 Emergency Response Amendment Act of 2020
(D.C. Act 23-247), which was approved by the Council and the Mayor on March
17, 2020, empower the District government with additional tools to address

Mayor’s Order 2020-054
Page 2 of 8
COVID-1!19. In addition, the President declared a national emergency on March
13, 2020, and the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, characterized
COVID-19 as a pandemic.

35 The findings of prior COVID-19 Mayor’s Orders are incorporated here by
reference.

4, Because of the risk of the rapid spread of the virus, and the need to protect all
members of Washington, DC, and the region, especially residents most
vulnerable to suffering the prolonged illness or death from the virus, and local
health care providers and first responders, this Order requires all individuals
anywhere in Washington, DC, to stay in their residences except to perform
essential activities, engage in essential business, provide or obtain essential
government services, or engage certain authorized recreational activities not
involving close contact with other persons.

5. The intent of this Order is to:

a. Keep the maximum number of people in their residences to the
maximum extent feasible, consistent with protecting their own health
and the health of others, while enabling essential activities, government
services, and business to continue;

b. Significantly slow the spread of COVID-19;

C. Reduce COVID-19 virus infections, COVID-19 illness, and death
caused by COVID-19 and tts complications;

d. Protect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Washington,
DC, and other individuals located in Washington, DC;

e. Allow essential activities, businesses, and government services to
operate and be delivered in relative safety; and

f. To preserve a sphere of personal freedom by allowing outside
recreational activities under conditions designed to minimize health
risks.

II. ORDER TO STAY AT HOME
1, a. All individuals living in Washington, DC, are ordered to stay at their place
of residence, except as specified in this Order.

b. Individuals experiencing homelessness are exempt from the provisions of
section II.1.a., but are strongly urged to obtain shelter, and District
agencies shall, and other public and private entities are strongly urged to,

Mayor’s Order 2020-054
Page 3 of 8
make such shelter available as soon as possible and to the extent
practicable, and to use COVID-19 risk mitigation practices in their
operations. The District’s 24-hour shelter hotline shall remain open and
accessible at 202-399-7093.

2. Individuals may leave their residences (including their porches and yards) only to
engage in Essential Activities including obtaining medical care that cannot be
provided through telehealth and obtaining food and essential household goods; to
perform or access Essential Governmental Functions; to work at Essential
Businesses; to engage in Essential Travel; or engage in Allowable Recreational
Activities, as defined in section IV of this Order.

3. Individuals shall not linger in common areas of apartment buildings and shall not
use buildings’ facilities, such as gyms, party rooms, lounges, rooftop, or courtyard
spaces. Such spaces are unlikely to be disinfected often and could otherwise
exposed individuals to the COVID-19 virus.

4, Leaving home for the purposes of engaging in Essential Business Activities or the
Minimum Business Operations of businesses not deemed Essential in Mayor’s
Order 2020-053 is permissible, and persons are allowed to obtain and provide
home-based services so long as the services do not involve physical touching and
may be carried out in compliance with the Social Distancing Requirements, as
defined in section IV.8 of this Order.

5. When engaging in Essential Travel, the following requirements and restrictions
shall apply:

a. Individuals using public transportation to engage in Essential Travel must
comply with the Social Distancing Requirements defined in subsection
IV.8 of this Order, to the greatest extent feasible. Entry through the back
door of any bus or van with a back door is encouraged for the protection of
the drivers.

b. Drivers of ride-sharing vehicles engaged in Essential Travel must have
disinfecting wipes in their vehicles and must wipe down all surfaces
potentially touched by a passenger after each ride. Drivers of ride-sharing
vehicles may not have more than two (2) other persons in their vehicle at
any time.

C, Individuals using shared personal mobility devices such as scooters and
bicycles are strongly encouraged to bring their own disinfecting wipes and
wipe down the parts of the device they touch before and after riding.

d. Public and private transit officials shall make provisions for frequently
disinfecting buses, subway cars, and any other vehicles they operate, to the
highest feasible standards.

Mayor’s Order 2020-054
Page 4 of 8

6. Under any of the limited circumstances in which an individual is allowed to leave
their residence under this Order, the individual shall comply with the Social
Distancing Requirements defined in section IV.8 of this Order, to the maximum
extent possible.

Te Notwithstanding any other provision of this Order, an individual who is suspected
or confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 or any other transmissible infectious
disease shall not be outside their residence except as necessary to seek or receive
medical care in accordance with guidance from public health officials or their
health care provider.

II. OPERATION OF ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES & MINIMUM BUSINESS

OPERATIONS

1. The provisions of Mayor’s Order 2020-053 regarding which businesses are
essential; promoting telework; and allowing Minimum Business Operations of
Non-Essential Businesses and subsequent guidance published on
coronavirus.dc.gov remain in effect.

D: Additionally, at any time, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
(DCRA) may request and an Essential Business must provide, its plans for
complying with the requirement to minimize person-to-person contact and
achieve to the greatest extent feasible, Social Distancing.

3; Likewise, Non-Essential Businesses conducting Minimum Business Operations
pursuant to Mayor’s Order 2020-053 or fuller operations under a Waiver granted
by HSEMA may be asked to show their operational plan and why the activities
they are conducting, and how they are conducting them, fit within allowable
limits.

4. The DCRA may impose penalties including summary closure of businesses,
subject to subsequent hearings at the Office of Administrative Hearings; Notices
of Infractions and Orders to Show Cause why a Business Should not be Closed;
Notices of Infractions and Penalties of up to $1,000 per day for violations per site
operating in violation of this Order or Mayor’s Order 2020-053; and penalties of
up to $5,000 per day per site for operation after an Order to close, or a visit by an
inspector that resulted in a warning or a request to close, that was immediately
complied with.

5. Any Essential Business or Government Building or Facility that remains open to
the public with an expected occupancy or attendance of more than ten (10) people
shall promptly and conspicuously post in the building or facility a copy of the
requirements for social distancing found on the coronavirus.dc.gov website as
may be amended from time to time by the District of Columbia Department of
Health (DC Health).

6, These penalties are in addition to any that may be imposed by the Alcohol

Mayor’s Order 2020-054
Page 5 of 8
Beverage Control Administration, including revocation of liquor licenses or
permission for delivery services.
IV. DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Order, the following terms shall mean:

1. “Allowable Recreational Activities” means outdoor activity with household
members that complies with Social Distancing Requirements, as defined in
section IV.8 of this Order, and includes the sanitizing of any equipment used both
before and after the activity. Outdoor activities should not be conducted with
persons other than those from one’s own household.

Examples: Walking, hiking, running, dog-walking, biking, rollerblading,
scootering, skateboarding, playing tennis, golfing, gardening, and other
activities where all participants comply with Social Distancing
Requirements and there is no person-to-person contact.

2. “Essential Activities” means:

a. Engaging in an activity or performing a task essential to an individual’s
own health or safety, or to the health or safety of the individual’s family or
household members, including pets.

Examples: Obtaining medical supplies or medication; visiting a
health care professional; or obtaining supplies needed to work from
home.

b. Obtaining services or supplies for an individual’s own self or the
individual’s family or household members; or delivering those services or
supplies to others that are necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and
operation of residences.

c, Performing work providing essential products and services at an Essential
Business or otherwise carrying out activities specifically permitted in this
Order, including Minimum Basic Operations.

d. Caring for a family member or pet in another household or serving as a
caregiver providing essential services to another. Caregiving involves
more than companionship or entertainment, but rather helps a person with
activities of daily living, the supervision of children, or otherwise tends to
the immediate physical needs and safety of someone who cannot attend to
those needs for him or herself.

e. Providing or obtaining services at a Health Care Operation.

Mayor’s Order 2020-054
Page 6 of 8

1. For purposes of this Order, the term “Health Care Operation”
includes hospitals, clinics, dentists, pharmacies, pharmaceutical
and biotechnology companies, other health care facilities, health
care suppliers, home health care and assisted living services,
mental health providers, or any related and/or ancillary health care
services.

il. The term “Health Care Operation” also includes veterinary care
and all health care services provided to animals.

iil. This authorization shall be construed broadly to avoid any impacts
to the delivery of health care, broadly defined.

IV. The term “Health Care Operation” does not include fitness
facilities, exercise gyms, spas, massage parlors, or other similar
facilities.

f. Providing any services or performing any work necessary to the operations
and maintenance of Essential Infrastructure.

1. For purposes of this Order, the term “Essential Infrastructure”
includes critical or emergency public works or utilities
construction, construction, solid waste collection and removal by
private and public entities, telecommunications services; provided,
that an individual shall provide these services and perform this
work in compliance with the Social Distancing Requirements as
defined in section IV.8 of this Order, to the extent possible.

il. Other infrastructure and construction activity may be allowable as
an Essential Business under section [V.3—of this Order.

3, “Essential Businesses” are those defined in Mayor’s Order 2020-053 and
subsequent interpretive guidance.

4. “Essential Government Functions” are those defined in Mayor’s Order 2020-
053 and include all the tasks performed by persons designated essential or
emergency personnel.

5. “Essential Travel” means:

a. Travel related to the provision of, or access to, Essential Activities,

Essential Governmental Functions, Essential Businesses, or Minimum

Basic Operations, including travel to and from work to operate Essential

Businesses or maintain Essential Governmental Functions;

b. Travel to care for elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or

Mayor’s Order 2020-054
Page 7 of 8
other vulnerable persons;

c. Travel required to visit a house of worship;

d, Travel to or from educational institutions for purposes of receiving
materials for distance learning, for receiving meals, and any other related
services;

e. Travel to return to a place of residence from outside Washington, DC;

a Travel required by law enforcement or court order;

g. Travel required for non-residents to return to their place of residence
outside Washington, DC; and

h. Travel within the Washington region to engage in allowable activities
under that jurisdiction’s laws.

6. “Minimum Basic Operations” means the following:

a. The minimum necessary activities to maintain the value of the business’s
inventory, ensure security, process payroll and employee benefits, and
related functions;

b. The minimum necessary activities to facilitate employees of the business
being able to continue to work remotely from their residences; and

C. The minimum necessary activities to facilitate teleworking or the remote
delivery of services formerly provided in-person by the business; to
provide for the pay and benefits of the businesses’ employees; to provide
cleaning and disinfection of a business’s facilities; or to provide employee
supervision of contractors or employees providing essential maintenance
of the facility.

7. “Residences” include homes and apartments, hotels, motels, shared rental] units,
and similar facilities.
8. “Social Distancing Requirements” include:

a. Maintaining at least six (6)-foot social distancing from other individuals;

b. Washing hands with soap and water for at least twenty (20) seconds or
using hand sanitizer frequently, or after contact with potentially-infected
surfaces, to the greatest extent feasible;

C. Covering coughs or sneezes, preferably with a tissue immediately

Mayor’s Order 2020-054
Page 8 of 8
disposed of, or into the sleeve or elbow, not hands;
d. Regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces; and |
e. Not shaking hands.
V. ENFORCEMENT
l. Any individual or entity that knowingly violates this Order shall be subject to all
civil, criminal, and administrative penalties authorized by law, including sanctions
or penalties for violating D.C. Official Code § 7-2307, including $1,000 fines,
summary suspension or revocation of business licensure.
| L, Any individual who willfully violates this Order may be guilty of a misdemeanor
and, upon conviction, subject to a fine not exceeding $5,000, imprisonment for
not more than 90 days, or both.
3. An officer or employee of the District of Columbia government that violates this
Order or any related personnel] issuance shall be subject to appropriate
administrative discipline, including, when circumstances warrant, suspension
from duty without pay or removal from office.
VI. SEVERABILITY
If any provision of this Order or its application to any person or circumstance is held to
be invalid, then the reminder of the Order, including the application of such part or
provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected and shall continue in
full force and effect.
VII. EFFECTIVE DATE
This Order shall become effective at 12:01 a.m. on April 1, 2020 and will continue to be
in effect through April 24, 2020, or until it is extended, rescinded, superseded, or
amended in writing by a subsequent Order.
MYVRIEL BOWSER
AYOR
ATTEST:
KIMB Y A. BASSETT
SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA