Stay-at-home vs. shelter-in-place: What’s the difference during coronavirus pandemic?

As coronavirus cases continue to rise, states and cities across the country are doing what they can to help flatten the curve.

As of Monday, at least 41 states have enacted some kind of restriction on the movement of people, according to the New York Times.

Cities, counties and states are issuing different types of orders to help keep people at home — including shelter-in-place, stay-at-home and safer-at-home orders.

These orders typically bring about different restrictions, but what do they mean during the coronavirus pandemic?

Here’s what we know about how some states are using different kinds of orders.

Safer at Home/Stay Home Order

These orders are often used interchangeably throughout the coronavirus pandemic, but typically have slightly different parameters, according to the League of Cities.

Safer at Home

These orders usually mean that people should do what they can to stay home in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the League reported. Under Safer at Home orders, some jurisdictions allow non-essential businesses to remain open assuming they limit capacity or impose social distancing measures inside.

Stay Home

These orders tend to be more aggressive, according to the League, but vary from place to place.

Typically, these orders limit ventures out of the home to essential activities such as doctor visits, grocery shopping and going to work for essential employees, the League reported.

How’s it playing out?

Safer-at-home and stay-at-home orders are the most common across the country with states as far east as Maine, as far north as Alaska and as far west as Hawaii enacting them, according to CNN.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee issued a safer-at-home order in the state last month that ordered non-essential businesses closed and recommended people stay home and avoid gatherings of 10 or more, the Tennessean reported.

He was quick to explain that it was not a “mandated ‘shelter in place’ order,” according to the outlet. A more restrictive order came on April 2 when he signed an executive order further mandating closures of non-essential businesses.

“April stands to be a very tough month for our state. COVID-19 is an imminent threat and we need you to understand that staying home isn’t an option,” Lee said, according to the Tennessean. “It’s a requirement for the swift defeat of COVID-19 in Tennessee.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also issued an order titled Safer at Home valid through April 30 mandating that Floridians only venture outside the home to “obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities.”

A stay-at-home order went into effect in Kansas on March 30, and the state said it would not implement fines for those who disobeyed, the Kansas City Star reported.

Shelter-in-Place

Usually the most restrictive measure of the three, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a shelter-in-place order means you should get inside and stay inside until you’re given additional directives.

The order looks different for coronavirus than it does other emergencies such as tornadoes or active shootings, CNN reported.

“The purpose of such an order is to enforce social distancing, or to keep people away from each other to limit the spread of the virus,” according to the outlet.

Who’s under shelter-in-place?

Six counties in San Francisco’s Bay Area were the first to enact a shelter-in-place order due to coronavirus and the entire state followed on March 19.

California’s order allows for essential services like gas stations, pharmacies, grocery stores, banks and essential state and local government functions, according to the state’s website.

Businesses such as dine-in restaurants, bars, clubs, gyms and hair were all ordered closed.

California’s order can be legally enforced and could result in a misdemeanor and fine of up to $1,000 or six months in jail, Cal Matters reported.

When counties in the Bay Area enacted shelter-in-place orders, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said people in New York City should be ready for similar measures.

“I think New Yorkers should be prepared right now for the possibility of a shelter-in-place order,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said, McClatchy News reported previously. “It has not happened yet but it is definitely a possibility at this point. I believe that decision should be made in the next 48 hours, and it’s a very, a very difficult decision.”

Not long after, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued his own order, but was careful to explain that New Yorkers were not being asked to shelter-in-place explaining the term causes panic, The Cut reported.

The restrictions in New York looked similar to those in the Bay Area, according to the outlet.

Some cities are enacting their own shelter-in-place orders.

Guthrie, Oklahoma — where the governor has only issued stay home orders in part of the state — implemented a shelter-in-place order Monday requiring citizens wear face coverings when out in public, KWTV reported.

The city of Laredo, Texas, has been under a shelter-in-place order since March 27 and recently enacted a policy mandating that people wear face masks in public buildings or face up to an $1,000 fine, McClatchy News reported.

This story was originally published April 7, 2020 at 9:14 AM with the headline "Stay-at-home vs. shelter-in-place: What’s the difference during coronavirus pandemic?."