The guidelines from the government to combat the spread of the new coronavirus are clear: Work from home whenever possible.

But, for some people, those who make food, repair cars, deliver mail or put out fires, that is not possible.

Instead, these employees continue working as usual, even though the environment around them has changed dramatically.

Some businesses must stay open to provide for their customers

"For us, (working at home) really isn't an option," said Donna Drinkman, the manager at Subway on McDowell and Hayden roads. "And takeout and delivery, while they are a decent part of our business, it's not enough."

Drinkman said as people order delivery and come to the store less, it's going to leave most of her staff not working. She said it's something that she's never seen before in her 13 years at Subway.

"The weekend was slow," Drinkman said. But as the work week started, "it feels relatively normal and I think that that helps, doing something normal."

In central Scottsdale at a Chevron gas station, McKenzie Castaing sat at a kiosk for Method Auto Glass repair and replacement services. At the gas station, Castaing is tasked with offering repair services to people who need it.

Castaing said even though there were still a lot people coming to the gas station, it's been a bit difficult because auto repair isn't the first thing on people's minds.

"And with the social distancing ... they'll wave us off and try to not get too close to us or anything like that," Castaing said.

Castaing said it comes down to a choice between not getting paid or taking the risk to come to work. And, it was really no choice. Receiving a paycheck, she said, is a necessity.

"I am technically part time, so I don't have the luxury of being able to take off days and still getting paid for them," Castaing said.

Maila Smith, who works at a gas station on Indian School and Pima roads, said she felt she was performing a vital service by continuing to come to work.

"If we close down, we don't offer them service," she said.

Smith said that the station not only sells gas but essential items in its store. And, she said, just being open helps people live a normal life during this pandemic.

"I would like to stay home," Smith said. "But I also want to work and give people what they need."

First responders taking extra precautions

Police officers and firefighters do not have the option to stop working during this time. The Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Phoenix Fire Department said the departments are reinforcing their protocols related to disinfecting and hygiene.

Sgt. Kameron Lee, spokesperson for the DPS, said troopers are making sure they maintain distance from people as best they can when in the office. When out in the field, troopers are frequently disinfecting their hands, computers and cars. If a trooper is sick, or one of their family members is, they are asked to stay home, he said.

"The health and well-being of our employees and family are our number one priority," Lee said.

But, the job doesn't stop. "We want people to know if they call 911 we are coming," he said.

Phoenix Fire Capt. Rob McDade said none of their firefighters are working from home or off work directly related to the illness, also called COVID-19.

The department's main concerns are making sure the members are not bringing home the virus to their families, if they are exposed.

The department sent out a video to their members reinforcing proper techniques on wearing personal protective equipment, decontaminating an ambulance after transporting a patient, and other safety protocols.

"We need to stay healthy so we can respond and take care of your family," McDade said.

He said the emergency medical services portion of the department is sending out regular memos reinforcing what the department already practices.

"When you enter public safety, you take an oath that in the worst of times you are still coming to work," McDade said.

Nurses concerned about health of themselves and family

Health-care workers put themselves at risk of contracting the new virus while they are at work and spreading it to their families. But, they do not have the option of not coming to work.

Kira Benjamin is studying to get her nurse practitioner license and has to work in doctors' offices in order to graduate. She said she wasn't concerned at first about the risk, but is getting more concerned as the virus is spreading quickly.

"I think it is getting more and more scary to have to put yourself in that position," Benjamin said.

Benjamin is a mom to three kids and is concerned that she might pick up the virus from work and bring it home to her kids.

Another concern, she said, was that doctor's offices, urgent cares and emergency rooms are running low on protective gear.

She said her offices are screening patients before bringing them back into rooms to ensure they have not been exposed to the virus.

"I feel like as a nurse, you know, we want to help our patients and we are going to be there no matter what," Benjamin said.

Reach the breaking news reporter at tina.giuliano@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter @TinaMGiuliano Reach the breaking news reporter at alyssa.stoney@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter @stoney_alyssa