GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Alachua County has issued an emergency stay-at-home order that will begin at midnight, county commission chair Robert Hutchinson and Gainesville mayor Lauren Poe announced this afternoon.

All businesses and gathering places deemed non-essential will be closed while the stay-at-home order is in effect.

The University of Florida has already taken aggressive action to slow the spread of the coronavirus. All classes for the spring and summer semesters have been moved to online-only.

All athletics competitions have been canceled through the 2019-20 athletics season, though practices have yet to be completely ruled out going forward. For now, all athletics gatherings, including practices, are canceled until at least April 15.

The University Athletic Association has kept the training rooms and the academic center open to support student-athletes who have remained in town. Those facilities are being regularly sanitized in an attempt to prevent further spread of the virus. The UAA, along with the university, has urged students that can return home to do so, though.

The list of essential businesses that will be allowed to remain open and operational during the stay-at-home order, according to the Alachua Chronicle, include:

Health care providers (which are “carefully defined”)

Grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, farms and farmers markets, food banks, shelters

News media and broadcasters

Gas stations, auto supply and auto repair shops

Banks

Hardware, gardening, and building supply stores

Certain contractors and tradesmen

Mailing, shipping, and delivery services

Colleges and trade schools can be open for online learning or to perform critical research

Laundromats, dry cleaners

Restaurants and kitchens (pick-up and delivery only)

Office supply stores

Certain businesses that do not interact with the public (home-based businesses are fine)

Businesses that primarily ship or deliver groceries, food, goods, or services directly to residents

Airlines, taxis, and other private transportation providers

Home-based caregivers for seniors, adults, and children, assisted living facilities and nursing homes

Businesses providing accounting services such as legal or accounting services

Landscape and pool care services (although those may be removed)

Child care facilities with specific restrictions required by the state

Businesses operating at the airport, except that restaurants have the same rules as all the other restaurants

Logistics providers including warehouses and trucking

Telecommunications providers, including computer services

Businesses engaged in the provision of office space and administrative support for essential services

Certain construction sites (limited – the County will be shutting down its building permit operation, including inspections, soon)

Factories and warehouses

Waste collection, including collection and disposal of waste, will continue but no hazardous material or bulk waste collection

Hotels and motels, but there is a list of priorities for them, including providing places for healthcare professionals and first responders, National Guard members, etc.

Veterinarians and boarding facilities

Mortuaries, funeral homes, and cemeteries

Any businesses that employ 5 or fewer persons, provided they do not come in contact with the public

Electrical production and distribution facilities and utilities.

You can view the entire stay-at-home order for Alachua County in its entirety here.