Maverick County Third Declaration of Disaster Due to Public Health Emergency
(Press Release)
WHEREAS, in December 2019, a novel coronavirus, now designated COVID-19, was detected in Wuhan, China; and
WHEREAS, symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, and can range from mild to severe illness; and
WHEREAS, on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization Director General declared the outbreak of COVID-19, as Public Health Emergency of International Concern, advising countries to prepare for the containment, detection, isolation and case management, contact tracing and prevention of onward spread of the disease; and
WHEREAS, on March 5, 2020, the World Health Organization Director General urged aggressive preparedness and activation of emergency plans to aggressively change the trajectory of this epidemic;
WHEREAS, Texas Governor Greg Abbott on March 13, 2020 declared a state of disaster and authorized all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions that are reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster; and
WHEREAS, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is closely monitoring the growing number of COVID-19 cases that have spread into the United States; and
WHEREAS, a large gathering of unidentifiable individuals without necessary mitigation for the spread of infection may pose a risk for the spread of infectious disease; and
WHEREAS, unidentifiable infected individuals could not be properly tracked to prevent the spread of infection; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 virus spreads between people who are in close contact with one another through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes; and
WHEREAS, the continued worldwide spread of COVID-19 presents an imminent threat of widespread illness, which requires emergency action; and
WHEREAS, on March 18, the Maverick County Judge, with consent of Commissioner’s court issued a declaration of local state of disaster due to public health emergency (1st disaster declaration), thereby activating the Maverick County, Texas, Emergency Management Plan. and
WHEREAS, on March 20, 2020, the Maverick County Judge, with consent of Commissioners Court, issued a Second Declaration that included a penalty provisions for any person that violates the Declaration of March 18th, 2020.
WHEREAS, on March 19, the Governor of the State of Texas issued an executive order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, superseding all previous orders on the matter.
WHEREAS, I, David R. Saucedo, County Judge of Maverick County, together with Commissioners Court have determined that extraordinary and immediate measures must be taken to respond quickly, prevent and alleviate the suffering of people exposes to and those infected with the virus, as well as those that could potentially be infected or impacted by COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, a declaration of local disaster and public health emergency includes the ability to take measures to reduce the possibility of exposure to disease, control the risk, prevent the spread of the disease and promote the health and safety of individuals in Maverick County; and
WHEREAS, Maverick County will work collaboratively with the Mayor of the City of Eagle Pass, Maverick County employees as well as the local health authority to ensure that all appropriate and necessary measures are taken to limit the development, contagion and spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, by this declaration, I declare all rules and regulations that may inhibit or prevent prompt response to this threat suspended for the duration of the incident; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority granted to the County Judge under the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, I, and Commissioners Court, authorize the use of all available resources of state government and political subdivisions to assist in the County’s response to this situation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE COUNTY JUDGE OF THE COUNTY OF MAVERICK:
1. That a state of disaster based on public health emergency is declared for Maverick County pursuant to section 418.108(a) of the Texas Government Code.
2. Pursuant to $418.108(b) of the Texas Government Code, Commissioners Court hereby consents to extend this Declaration for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of this Declaration until further Order of this Court.
3. Pursuant to section 418.108(c) of the Government Code, this declaration of a local state of disaster shall be given prompt and general publicity and shall be filed promptly with the County Clerk.
4. This declaration authorizes the County to take any actions necessary to promote health and suppress the virus, including the quarantine of persons and occupied structures, examining and regulating hospitals, regulating ingress and egress from the County, regulating ingress and egress to occupied structures, establishment of quarantine stations, emergency hospitals, and other hospitals, and insuring compliance for those who do not comply with the County’s rules, pursuant to Section 121.003 of the Health and Safety Code.
5. That all County departments and staff will continue operating. In addition, the following restrictions will be enforced:
a) The Maverick County Criminal Court will postpone Court sessions and County Criminal Court offices will be closed until April 6, 2020.
b) The Maverick County Parks and Recreations Department shall postpone leagues, events, and activities indefinitely. Fields and courts will not be allowed to be used or rented until further notice.
c) All Maverick County public parks will be closed until further notice. d) The Maverick County Public Library and all library facilities will be closed until further notice.
e) All Maverick County Solid Waste Authority and Water Control & Improvement District #1 meetings are hereby postponed until their regularly scheduled meeting in May of 2020, unless held in conformance with authorization issued by the Governor of Texas on March 16, 2020 which allows meetings via videoconference or telephonic,
6. That this declaration hereby limits the size of gatherings to not more than 10 people and mandates the cancellation of all such gatherings until further notice. For purposes of this declaration, a “gathering” refers generally to any event or common endeavor that brings together or is likely to bring together 10 persons or more at the same time in a confined or enclosed space, room, or area such as, by way of example and without limitation, and rium, theatre, stadium (indoor or outdoor), event center, bowling alley, bingo parlor, maquinita/slot machine parlor, food courts, meeting hall, conference center, large cafeteria, or any other confined indoor or confined outdoor space.
7. For purposes of clarity, a “gathering” does not include the following: (i) hospitals, medical facilities and shelters; (iii) grocery stores and other essential retail establishments, including but not limited to hardware stores; and (iv) jails and detention centers. In all such settings, where possible, it is recommended the public follow social distancing recommendations, and harm reduction measures such as hand sanitizer and tissues should be provided. However, any specific large gathering space that is part of any building included in this Section is subject to the prohibition of gatherings as outlined in Section 7. In all such settings, it is recommended that the public follow social distancing recommendations and harm reduction measures such as hand sanitizer and tissues should be provided when possible.
8. To the extent possible, retail establishments, including but not limited to, grocery stores, pharmacies, pet food stores, warehouse stores, gas stations, or food pantries that provide or sell to or household staples are ORDERED to establish controls to require a minimum of six feet of distance between patrons in lines queuing in front of and inside stores. Controls may include, but are not limited to, requiring each person to take a shopping cart or placing markers on the floor.
9. In accordance with executive orders issued by the Governor of Texas, people shall avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants, and food courts, or visiting gyms or massage parlors; provided, however, that the use of drive-through, pickup, or delivery options is allowed and highly encouraged.
10. In accordance with executive orders issued by the Governor of Texas, people shall not visit nursing homes, elderly day care nutrition centers, long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.
11. Entry into grocery stores shall be restricted to one person per family. No person under 17 years of age shall be allowed entry into a grocery store as a patron/customer. Employees of the grocery store are exempt from this prohibition.
12. All outdoor markets, flea markets, and outdoor retail establishments shall be closed until further notice.
13. People shall avoid all playground areas found in public parks and common areas of apartment complexes, condominiums, retail establishments, restaurants, and grocery stores. It is further ordered that the owners of these playgrounds and common areas located at apartment complexes, condominiums, retail establishments, restaurants, and grocery stores shall take the necessary steps to close or prohibit access to these areas.
14. Persons under 17 years of age shall not remain in any public place or on the premises of any establishment. The County’s curfew hours for persons under 17 years shall be enforced from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. daily until further notice. Persons under 17 years of age are allowed to remain in the front or back yard of their family residence but not on public streets or public areas. Persons under 17 years of age will be permitted to travel to Eagle Pass Independent School District campuses Monday through Friday only to pick up food or assignments from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
15. All public and private school campuses shall limit attendance only to administration and personnel essential only to administration, sanitation, and food distribution duties.
16. All persons who have undergone testing for coronavirus shall remain in quarantine as per their health provider’s instructions.
17. Pursuant to section 418.173 of the Texas Government Code, a person who knowingly or intentionally violates the Declaration of March 18th, 2020 commits an offense, punishable by a fine up to $1,000.00 or confinement in jail that does not exceed 180 days.
18. Pursuant to the authority granted under the laws of the State of Texas, the County may take actions necessary to protect the health of persons in the County.
19. This declaration shall take effect immediately from and after its issuance.
ORDERED this 22nd day of March, 2020.
The Honorable David R. Saucedo County Judge
The Honorable Gerardo “Jerry” Morales Commissioner, Precinct 1
The Honorable Rosy Cantu Commissioner, Precinct 2
The Honorable Pete Venegas Commissioner, Precinct 3
The Honorable Roberto Ruiz Commissioner, Precinct 4
