Appliance, Electronics Stores and Staff Considered ‘Essential’ by the Federal Government

In response to the patchwork of “essential” business categories under states’ varying shelter-in-place rules, the federal government has issued new guidelines to help identify critical infrastructure.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a unit of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has issued a memorandum on the “Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers During COVID-19 Response.”

Included in the new guidelines under the category of Commercial Facilities are workers in appliance, consumer electronics and tech stores, as well as employees who install, repair, service and distribute refrigeration and cooling/heating equipment. All are deemed “essential” to public health and safety during the pandemic.

While the list is advisory in nature, and individual jurisdictions can add or subtract categories, the government classification could help quell the social media pushback that some members have reported over remaining open during the COVID crisis.

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