On March 23, 2020, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice announced a Stay-At-Home Order that will affect all West Virginians. The Order took effect at 8:00 p.m. on March 24, 2020, it :
- Requires all West Virginians to stay at home except for one of eight specific reasons, most notably for the purchase of essential goods and services (for instance groceries and medicine) and employment in essential businesses;
- Requires all non-essential business to close and temporarily cease nearly all operations, with notable exceptions for security, payroll processing, and support of remote employees; and
- Allows essential businesses to continue operations, with notable examples including those businesses that support healthcare, food production and distribution, housing, law enforcement, infrastructure, transportation, finance, and utilities.
Persons violating the Order may be arrested under the authorizing legislation or general obstruction statutes.
