Status of States Listing Print as an Essential Business

Last Updated: April 28, 12:35 PM

Major Updates:

• New York issued an Executive Order directing essential businesses to provide face coverings to their employees when in direct contact with customers or members of the public, at the expense of the employer.
• Colorado Gov. Polis issued an order requiring essential workers to wear masks on their job sites for the next 30 days.
• Connecticut Gov. Lamont issued requirements for workers to wear face coverings for the duration of the state’s emergency declaration.
• As of April 20, Connecticut issued Executive Order No. 7BB requires employees to wear masks and keep a safe social distance of 6 feet in the workplace. The City of San Francisco issued a similar Order for employees as well as individuals outside of their houses.
• Governor Raimondo of Rhode Island issued an Executive Order requiring cloth face coverings for all employees.
• Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey ordered essential businesses in the state to adopt several measures including mandatory face coverings at worksites, occupancy limits for stores, and frequent handwashing breaks for employees.
• New York issued an Executive Order requiring employers to provide essential workers with face masks.

**See our post on Stay in Place Order Expiration Dates to see information on all states.

Throughout the country, each state is at a different stage in their COVID-19 response. Some states have implemented approaches focusing on restricting gatherings of large groups, issuing recommendations of social distancing, etc. while others have become more stringent.

The most stringent measures we have seen being taken so far is issuing a mandatory “Shelter in place” or “Stay at home” order. Along with this order comes a closure of all “non-essential” businesses. Here’s where it gets tricky — what businesses are considered “essential”?

There have been several approaches to define essential businesses. Some states are using the list of essential businesses identified by the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) (PDF). The CISA list is not mandatory so other states have developed their own list of essential or life sustaining businesses. Some states have used the CISA list and modified it to reflect the businesses in their states.

In most instances, businesses that support or are in the supply chain of these essential, life-sustaining businesses are allowed to continue to operate. Many printing operations would fall under this “supporting supply chain” category, so SGIA is working with the Printing Industries of America’s Affiliates to get all states who have issued a shelter in place to allow exemptions for supporting businesses. The list below shows the response category each state is currently in.

*Bolded states in the No Restriction on Business category have made it public that they are considering a Stay at Home Order and are working on defining “Essential” businesses.

Even if your state is currently in the No Restrictions on Business category, the possibility of moving to a Stay at Home Order should be on your radar. Changes are happening very rapidly. It is important that “supporting businesses” are considered essential in your state just in case a Stay at Home Order is issued.

For more details on the status of your state’s response, see the resources below:

• National Association of Manufacturers (PDF) is updating their information every day. They have specific information on how manufacturers may be impacted.
• Environmental Resource Center is providing newsletters from each state to keep people up to date on the most recent changes.