Eagle Pass City Council Approves Covering of Nose and Mouth for People Over 5 Years Old Due to COVID-19
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2020
The City of Eagle Pass, Texas City Council unanimously approved at their April 7, 2020 regular meeting a modification to the City’s earlier Declaration of Disaster Public Health Emergency Order due to COVID-19 that “all persons over the age of five years old are required to wear some form of covering (such as a homemade mask, scarf, bandana, or handkerchief) over their nose and mouth AT ALL TIMES except a) when on your property or riding in a personal vehicle; b) when alone in a separate single space (i.e. office); c) when necessary for purposes of a health emergency or for identification purposes; d) when necessary for consumption purposes; and e) Law Enforcement and first responders shall utilize their standard operating procedures for the use of this equipment in conformance with policy and practice and as authorized by their Supervisors.”
Expected to approve a similar requirement at their next meeting, possibly as early as April 8, 2020, is the Maverick County Commissioners Court so that this requirement be applicable County-wide, according to County Judge David R. Saucedo.
The use of a form of covering over a person’s nose and mouth, also known as a face mask, is recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
The Eagle Pass City Council also approved other modifications or changes to their earlier Declaration of Disaster due to COVID-19.
Section 26 of the April 7, 2020 Resolution requires that “if someone in a household has tested positive for COVID-19 and is not hospitalized, the individual is ordered to isolate at home for a period of at least fourteen (14) days from when symptoms first appeared or when the positive test results were obtained, whichever is later. The Local Health Authority may impose a longer period of time for isolation. If a member of the household tests positive, then other members of the household or those that came in contact with the person who tested positive, should consider themselves positive if they become symptomatic and those persons shall follow the isolation and quarantine measures prescribed by local, state, or federal health authorities. Asymptomatic members of the household or those that came in contact with the person who tested positive shall quarantine in their household and NOT go to work, school, or any other community function until the individual who tested positive is no longer required to isolate or until cleared by the Local Health Authority.”
Section 27 of the April 7, 2020 Resolution requires that “Religious and worship services may only be provided by video and teleconference. Religious institutions must limit in-person staff to ten (10) people or less when preparing for or conducting video or teleconference services. All individuals must follow the safe social distancing guidelines including maintaining six (6) feet social distancing for employees, volunteers, and visitors; regularly washing hands with soap and water for at least twenty (20) seconds or the use of hand sanitizer; cover coughs or sneezes; regularly clean high-touch surfaces; and ensure no physical handshakes or contact takes place.”
Section 28 of the April 7, 2020 Resolution adds that “Any peace officer or other person with lawful authority, including but not limited to the City of Eagle Pass Police Department and Investigators, Code Enforcement Officers, the City of Eagle Pass Fire Marshal’s Office, the Maverick County Sheriff’s Office, the Maverick County Constable’s Office, the Maverick County District Attorney Investigators and all other law enforcement partner agencies are hereby authorized to enforce the provisions of this Order in accordance with the authority granted under Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code. This declaration hereby authorizes the use of all lawfully available enforcement tools.”
Section 29 of the April 7, 2020 Resolution adds that “Whether a service or activity is essential will be based on the primary purpose with the final determination resting solely with the City of Eagle Pass as the final authority.”
Section 30 of the April 7, 2020 Resolution establishes penalties for violation of this resolution and states the following: “In accordance with Texas Government Code Section 418.173, a person who knowingly or intentionally violates this declaration commits an offense, punishable by a fine up to $1,000 or confinement in jail for a term that does not exceed 180 days. The penalty for a violation of this Section 25 only shall be a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). The City Manager shall earmark all revenues collected for violations of this Section 25 to expenses related to the COVID-19 disaster.”
All prior City declarations, resolutions, or orders pertaining to COVID-19, including the March 31, 2020 Resolution No. 2020-20R, shall remain effective.
This newly approved April 7, 2020 Resolution is effective immediately from and upon its passage. All Eagle Pass residents must comply with these new modifications or requirements established in the April 7, 2020 Resolution or risk receiving a citation and face a penalty of up to $1,000 or confinement of up to six (6) months in jail.
These modifications will be approved by Maverick County Commissioners Court on April 8, 2020 so that all Maverick County residents will be subject to these Emergency orders due to COVID-19.
