Other NE states are about the same. Not a good sign. With so much broken, too much time is spent on rules that make no sense.
Along with oxygen, aren’t food clothing and shelter essential? All these stores shut down as they are deemed non essential. But stores from wawa to Walmart can remain open. It’s not just stupid it’s not right.
I think the general list was federal, but the NE states definitely accepted clothing stores as non-essential. It's not so bad now, but it was cold in March.
I sold my car when I moved a few years ago; when I moved back I decided I didn't need one and didn't want to buy another one. Unfortunately, essential businesses included gas stations, auto repair and car rental (but not auto sales in PA or DE, only limited sales in MD).
Not that I wanted to buy one, but it seemed perverse to shut down car sales at the same time that they created obstacles to any alternatives:
* walking - shut down clothing stores selling warm clothes in March, also shut down shoe repair
* bicycling - shut down bicycle stores (so you can't buy bicycle tires, only all the car tires you want), and
* public transportation - stopped commuter rail service, reduced bus schedules and capacity by about 80%
The governors have since admitted that motorcycles and bicycles are essential, but the resistance and delays give me the impression they were angry anyone questioned their orders at all, and they didn't think that anyone without a car should be allowed to travel more than a block or so.