Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued a stay-at-home order Tuesday closing most businesses and directing residents to stay home unless they are going to grocery stores, running errands or exercising outside.

The order requires that businesses in Harris County cease all activities — except those defined as “essential” within the order. Here is a complete list of the businesses that may remain open under Hidalgo’s order, which takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday and goes through April 3.

Health care operations

All hospitals, clinics, dentists, pharmacies and biotechnology companies, health care suppliers, mental health providers and any other health care facilities may remain open. That includes blood banks, medical research facilities, veterinary care and others.

The order specifies: “This exemption shall be viewed broadly to avoid any impacts to the delivery of healthcare.”

Retail

Among the exempted retail businesses are grocery, warehouse, furniture, big box, liquor, convenience, hardware, auto supply, auto and bike repair stores. Gas stations, bodegas, farmers’ markets, laundromats and dry cleaners will remain open, along with “schools and other entities that typically provide free services to students or members of the public on a pick-up and take-away basis only.”

Also deemed essential is food production — including canned goods, bottled beverages and “other grocery items” — and farming, ranching, fishing and livestock. Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods or services “directly to residences” also are exempted. And as previously enforced, restaurants and “other facilities that prepare and serve food” may only serve delivery, takeout and drive-thru orders.

Cafes and restaurants in hospitals and medical facilities may remain open, as can businesses that “supply products needed for people to work from home.”

Services needed to maintain operations at residences and essential businesses

Trash/recycling collection, processing and disposal is exempt from the order, as are mail, shipping, building cleaning, maintenance and security services. Storage facilities for essential businesses also may stay open, as can distribution and fulfillment centers, funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries.

Also exempted: plumbers, electricians, exterminators, yard and maintenance crews, housekeepers, janitorial staff, pool cleaners, caregivers who work for seniors and and others who provide services “that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operations of residences” and essential businesses.

The order also creates broad exemptions for professional services that are “necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities,” and businesses that supply essential businesses “with support or utilities needed to operate.”

Construction and related industries

The order defines sweeping exemptions for construction workers, allowing public works operations and “housing or other types of construction including commercial, manufacturing, airport operations and aircraft manufacturing.” Other businesses that can remain open are: maintenance or repair, water, sewer, gas, electrical, oil refining, roads and highways, public transportation, solid waste collection and removal, internet, and telecommunications systems.”

Transportation

Any business related to the “operation, maintenance, construction, and manufacture of transportation services” may remain open, including: vehicle manufacturers, automotive suppliers and parts departments, car dealerships, parts distributors, maintenance and repair facilities, public transportation and businesses supporting airport operations. The order also exempts vehicles for hire and public transportation services, such as Uber, Lyft, and taxicabs, “that enable persons to travel to or from employers, service providers, or businesses exempted in” the order.

Critical infrastructure

In perhaps the broadest section of the order, businesses may remain open if they are necessary to the operations and maintenance of 16 “infrastructure sectors” identified by the Department of Homeland Security. Many of the sectors — health care, law enforcement, food and transportation, among others — are among the county’s essential businesses. Others, such as electricity, petroleum and natural and propane workers, are not explicitly listed in the county’s order but are among the industries deemed “critical” by DHS. A full list of the 16 industries can be found here.

Government functions

The order exempts “all services provided by local governments and municipalities located in Harris County” that are “needed to ensure their continuing operation.” The order carves out a provision that allows Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner to determine what constitutes an “essential government function. That clause does not exist for any other municipalities in Harris County.

Other businesses that may remain open are:

T hose that provide food, shelter, social services and “other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals.”

hose that provide food, shelter, social services and “other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals.” N ews media, including newspapers, TV and radio stations.

ews media, including newspapers, TV and radio stations. C hildcare and adult care facilities providing services “that enable employees exempted” in the order to “work as permitted.”

hildcare and adult care facilities providing services “that enable employees exempted” in the order to “work as permitted.” L abor union “functions, including the maintenance of health and welfare funds and checking on the well-being and safety of members.”

abor union “functions, including the maintenance of health and welfare funds and checking on the well-being and safety of members.” NASA and the Port of Houston.

A irports and “airline activities, operations, maintenance and repairs,” and hotels that serve those industries.

irports and “airline activities, operations, maintenance and repairs,” and hotels that serve those industries. Legal, accounting and insurance services, and real estate “when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities or to further” essential businesses, government functions or critical infrastructure.

Which businesses are required to close?

The order forces a number of businesses to close: hair and nail salons, spas, licensed massage businesses and tattoo parlors, concert halls, live performance theaters, arenas, stadiums, movie theaters, game rooms, bowling alleys, arcades, indoor and outdoor flea markets and swap meets, indoor malls, indoor shopping centers, bingo halls, gyms, fitness centers, swimming pools and other facilities that are used or intended to be used for any type of training, martial arts, sport or recreation. Public parks and open outdoor recreation areas remain open under the order, but public playgrounds are closed.

Religious and worship services are limited to video and teleconference, though faith leaders may “minister and counsel in individual settings, so long as social distance protocols are followed.” The order requires religious institutions to “limit in-person staff to those necessary for preparing for or conducting video or teleconference services.”

Anyone with questions about the stay-at-home order or whether their business can remain open can email Harris County at stayathome@cjo.hctx.net.

jasper.scherer@chron.com