Buncombe County has issued a declaration ordering all residents of the county to stay in their homes for two weeks in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Board of Commissioners Chairman Brownie Newman signed a "Stay home, stay safe" supplement to the county's local state of emergency declaration during an afternoon briefing March 25.

The measure goes into effect at 8 p.m. March 26 and lasts through 6 a.m. April 9. Officials may change or extend the declaration as they see fit.

Newman said the order differs from a shelter-in-place because the latter is "more restrictive" and limits travel outside of the home to emergency-only activity.

The Buncombe measure requires all individuals living in the county to stay at their place of residence and leave only for essential activities or to work at essential businesses.

Background:Coronavirus: Buncombe drafting a 'stay home, stay safe' order

All non-essential businesses in the county must close.

A violation of the order is a Class 2 misdemeanor. It applies countywide and to all Buncombe municipalities.

Buncombe COVID-19 numbers continue to rise

The county's declaration is designed to slow the spread of the disease caused by novel coronavirus during what Newman described as a "critical period."

Thirteen Buncombe residents tested positive for COVID-19 through March 25, interim health director Dr. Jennifer Mullendore said in the briefing. Positive tests also were returned on five individuals visiting the county from out-of-state. Results from more than 100 tests are still pending.

The Citizen Times is providing this story for free to readers because of the need for information about the coronavirus. We encourage you to further support local journalism by subscribing.

Read Buncombe's 'Stay home, stay safe' order:

What is essential activity?

Under the declaration, people may leave home to:

Complete tasks that are essential to the health and safety of household members, including pets

Obtain necessary supplies — including from the grocery store or pharmacy — or deliver supplies to others

Go for a run, hike or other outdoor activity, as long as proper social distancing is observed

Care for a person or pet in another household

Perform work at an essential business

Those who are sick must self-isolate at home unless they need to seek medical attention. Other members of the household must quarantine at home.

Evictions, foreclosures suspended:NC courts halt non-essential proceedings

All gatherings outside of households are prohibited, regardless of size.

People experiencing homelessness are exempt from the order but are urged to find shelter. County officials say they are working to accommodate this need.

What businesses are considered essential?

Employees of all businesses must comply with social distancing guidelines and maintain 6 feet of separation between themselves and others.

Under the declaration, businesses considered essential include:

Essential health care operations

Essential government function

Essential critical infrastructure

Essential retail

Educational institutions facilitating distance learning

Providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged populations

Essential services necessary to maintain essential operations of residences or essential businesses

News media

Child care services

Any manufacturer who retools to create personal protective equipment, ventilators, disinfectants or similar equipment that protects against COVID-19 is considered essential.

Where to get food in Asheville: What's open, offering takeout and delivering

All businesses may maintain minimal basic operations including:

maintaining the value of inventory and conditions of plants and equipment

ensuring security

processing payroll

ensuring benefits or other related functions.

Supply and demand:Why your grocery stores won't close amid the pandemic

Working from home is allowed. An individual may also go into a business to maintain the remote work of others.

Restaurants may provide take out, delivery and drive-thru services.

Religious worship is only allowed to be offered virtually and religious institutions must limit in-person staff to 10 or fewer in creating teleconferences.

Those who work outside of Buncombe are urged but not legally required to comply with the declaration in regards to their employment.

Hotels, short-term rentals must close

All lodging facilities, including campgrounds, with rentals or leases for less than a month must close.

Work-related housing, facilities housing those experiencing homelessness or facilities being used for isolation and quarantine purposes are exempt from this requirement.

Current residents of short-term lodging facilities can stay, but the facilities must cancel any leisure travel reservations for the duration of the declaration.

All visitors to Buncombe from areas experiencing community transmission must self-quarantine for 14 days before entering the community.

What is considered essential travel?

Under the order, only essential travel is allowed. This includes:

travel related to accessing essential activities

travel related to essential government functions

travel related to essential business and operations

travel to care for elderly, minors, dependents and people with disabilities

travel to and from educational institutions for materials required for distance learning, receiving meals and other services

travel required by law enforcement or court order

Not sure about your business?

The county is accepting questions about specific businesses via email to Business@BuncombeCounty.org.

Business owners should include in their emails:

The name and nature of their business

An email and phone number for the business contact

A description why they believe their business is essential

A link to the business website, if available

Additional breakdown of the order

An "interpretive guidance" document from Buncombe County breaks down different categories of essential activities and businesses under the declaration and provides some answers to frequently asked questions.

You can read it here:

Mackenzie Wicker covers Buncombe County for the Asheville Citizen Times. You can reach her at mwicker@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter @MackWick.

Read more: Subscribe to the Citizen Times here.