City of Eagle Pass and Maverick County Approve Stay at Home Emergency Order Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2020
The City of Eagle Pass City Council and Maverick County Commissioners Court approved a Declaration of Disaster Public Health Emergency Resolution at respectively called Emergency Meetings of both local governments on March 31, 2020 to establish a Stay-at-Home Order for all city and county residents due to the lethal COVID-19 Pandemic afflicting the community, United States, and world.
Both the City of Eagle Pass and Maverick County Stay at Home Emergency Order states that “All individuals currently living within the City of Eagle Pass [and Maverick County] are ordered to shelter at their place of residence. For purposes of these Emergency Measures, residences include hotels, motels, shared rentals, and similar facilities. To the extent individuals are using shared or outdoor spaces, they must at all times as reasonably as possible maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any other person when they are outside their residence. All persons may leave their residence only for Essential Activities, or to provide or perform Essential Governmental Functions, or to operate Essential Businesses, all as defined….herein.”
The new Stay at Home Emergency Order further states that “All businesses operating within the City of Eagle Pass [and Maverick County], except Essential Businesses as defined…herein, are required to cease all activities at facilities located within the City [and County]. For clarity, businesses may continue operations consisting exclusively of employees or contractors performing activities at their own residences (i.e. working from home). To the greatest extent possible, all Essential Businesses shall comply with the Social Distancing Guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found online….including maintaining six-foot social distancing for both employees and the general public and encourage/recommend to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to employees.
According to the new Stay at Home Emergency Order, all “Adult individuals may leave the residence only to perform any of the following “Essential Activities:” a) to engage in activities or perform tasks essential to their health and safety, or to the health and safety of their family or household members (for example, obtaining medical supplies or medication, visiting a health care professional, or obtaining supplies needed to to work at home from home; b) to obtain necessary services or supplies for themselves and their family or household members, or to deliver these services or supplies to others (for example, food, pet supply, and any other household consumer products, and products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences); c) to engage in outdoor activity, provided the individuals comply with social distancing requirements of six feet (for example, walking, biking, hiking, or running); d) to perform providing essential products and services at an Essential Business or to otherwise carry out activities specifically permitted in these Emergency Measures; and e) to care for a family member or pet in another household.”
The new Stay at Home Emergency Order further defines that “Essential Businesses” means: a) Essential Healthcare Operations, including hospitals, clinics, dentist, pharmacies, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, other healthcare facilities, other healthcare suppliers, mental health, providers, substance abuse service providers, blood banks, medical research, laboratory services, or any related and/or ancillary health care services. Home-based and residential-based care for seniors, adults, or children are also considered healthcare operations. Veterinary care and all health and welfare services provided to animals are considered also healthcare operations; b) Essential Government Functions…by local governments needed to ensure the continuing operation of the government agencies to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public….c) Essential Critical Infrastructure including work necessary to the operations and maintenance of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors identified by the National Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA)….d) Essential Retail including food service providers, grocery stores, warehouse stores, big box stores, bodegas, gas stations and convenience stores, farmers’ markets that sell food products and household staples. Food cultivation including farming, fishing, and livestock. Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods or services directly to residences. Restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food, but only for delivery or take out. Liquor stores but only by drive through service. Schools and other entities….Laundromats, dry cleaners, laundry service providers, gas stations, auto supply stores, auto and bicycle repair, hardware stores….e) Providers of Basic Necessities to Economically Disadvantaged Populations; f) Essential Services Necessary to Maintain Essential Operations of Residences or Other Essential Businesses including trash and recycling collection, processing and disposal , mail and shipping services, building cleaning, maintenance and security, warehouse distribution/fulfillment, storage for essential businesses, funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries…Plumbers, electricians, exterminators,…Professional services, such as legal or accounting services,…g) News Media; and Childcare Services.
Any business not fulfilling the definition of an “Essential Business” shall have to temporarily close down during the emergency period until further order of the City of Eagle Pass and Maverick County.
The new Stay at Home Emergency Order restricts and/or prohibits: 1) all public or private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a household or living unit except a gathering of members of a household or living unit; 2) Restaurants with or without drive-in or drive-through services may only provide take out, delivery, or drive through services; 3) Religious and worship services may only be provided by video or teleconference….4) All elective medical, surgical, and dental procedures are prohibited…5) If anyone in a household has been tested or has tested positive for COVID-19, the household is ordered to isolate at home. Members of the household can not go to work, school, or any other community function….6) People shall not visit any nursing homes, elderly day care nutrition centers, long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance….7) Entry into retail establishments, including grocery stores, pharmacies, pet food stores, warehouse stores, hardware stores, and gas stations, shall be limited to one person per family. No person under 17 years of age shall be allowed to entry into a retail establishment as a patron/customer, unless they are working there….8) All outdoor markets, flea markets, and outdoor retail establishments shall be closed until further notice….9) A 24 hour curfew shall be imposed on residents who are 17 years or younger who are not in school, are not accompanied by school personnel, a parent, a guardian , are not going directly to their place of employment, or returning therefrom….10) All public and private school campuses and Eagle Pass Independent School District Administration shall limit attendance only to administration and personnel essential only to administration, sanitation, and food distribution duties….
Any person found in violation of this Stay at Home Emergency Order may be charged or issued a Criminal Citation for a Class B Misdemeanor in Maverick County Court with a fine of up to $1,000 and six months in jail if found guilty. This new Stay at Home Emergency Order shall be enforced by the multiple Law Enforcement Task Force in the City and County.
This new Stay at Home Emergency Order is effective March 31, 2020 and shall continue in operation until further order from the City of Eagle Pass and Maverick County.
All Eagle Pass and Maverick County residents are highly encouraged to obtain and read a copy of the new Stay at Home Emergency Order of March 31, 2020 to become familiar with all of its provisions and terms to avoid being cited for violating it.
This Stay at Home Emergency Order has been issued by the Eagle Pass City Council and Maverick County Commissioners Court to protect you and everyone in the community from becoming infected with the COVID-19 virus, protect your health, safety, and welfare, and to prevent the community spread of COVID-19 in Maverick County. Everyone is subject to this new Stay at Home Emergency Order and your strict compliance is required as it is the law until further notice.
