This afternoon, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice announced a Stay-At-Home Order that will affect all West Virginians. Once the Order takes effect at 8:00 p.m. on March 24, 2020, it will:
 

• Require 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;
• Require 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
• Allow 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.
 
Contact one of the attorneys in Spilman Thomas & Battle's COVID-19 Task Force to learn more about what constitutes an "essential" business and how the Stay-At-Home Order affects you.