People have been assured every effort is being made to ensure vital services including bin collections will continue, as all non-essential businesses were ordered to close.
Hair and beauty salons, nightclubs, car showrooms, non-essential retail stores and places of worship are among the businesses and venues affected by the national closure instruction across Mansfield and Ashfield.
Now, both district councils have issued messages to their residents on what they can expect and should be doing in the coming weeks.
David Evans, Head of Health and Communities at Mansfield District Council, said: "Customers can also still buy online and we encourage people to do this.
"We hope businesses will stick to these restrictions as it is vitally important they support national efforts to keep people safe. This will save lives and help to protect our NHS from being overloaded."
The council is also urging individuals who suspect a business is breaking the closure rules - or if employees do not appear to be being protected - to report it to the authority's environmental health team.
Alongside ensuring businesses follow the restrictions put in place, councils are also facing "daily changes in circumstances and new restrictions" in the way they work and their services to the public.
Mansfield District Council's executive Mayor Andy Abrahams said: “We’ve tackled financial difficulties, changes in leadership, but never has the call for public service been more vital to our community.
"This urgent situation will be a test for all of us but I want to be clear that Mansfield District Council is working hard to ensure that critical services continue to be delivered throughout the coronavirus epidemic.
"Your bins will be emptied, housing benefits will be paid and support given to residents and businesses. Let us worry about delivering your services. We will do all we can to keep our town going.
“At times like this, it is important for us all to help each other. Be neighbourly and kind. Give help where you can and look after each other.
“Councillors are central to our local response in co-ordinating community efforts to help people in need and will ensure that any such responses are done with the greatest consideration for keeping vulnerable people safe. Contact your local ward councillor if you need help.
“People have been asked to stay at home as much as possible and to go out only to work when it is essential to do so, or once a day for exercise and to shop only when necessary for essentials, like food or medicines.
“This rule applies to all council officers, too, so we are no longer operating from the Civic Centre and are home-working where we can, with front line services being delivered by a small resilient team formed across the council.
“The workforce is adapting to new ways of operating and delivering services and colleagues have been deployed where they are most needed.”
Ashfield District Council has told people that staff are working "above and beyond" to continue to deliver their "critical services".
Councillor Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council said “We advise all residents to follow government guidance and stay at home. The only way we are going to reduce the risk of spreading the virus is by listening to what the government are telling us.
“Although we have closed all our playgrounds, the majority of parks and green spaces are still open for residents to walk, run and cycle in following the guidance issued. But residents must follow the social distancing guidelines and go out alone or with family members they live with and stay at least 2m away from other people.
“Many of our staff are now working from home, and we want to thank residents for being patient when contacting us, as it may take us longer to answer and respond to enquiries. These are difficult times, but by following government guidelines we can all play part in tackling this pandemic together.”
