United States - Texas - Dallas County Issues a shelter-in-place order. Now what?



On March 12, 2020, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins issued a Declaration of Local Disaster for Public Health Emergency due to a novel coronavirus now designated SARS-CoV2 which causes the disease COVID-19. On the same day and in relation to the referenced declaration, Judge Jenkins issued an Order to “protect the safety and welfare of the public by slowing the spread of the virus.”

On March 22, 2020, Judge Jenkins issued an Amended Order entitled “Stay Home Stay Safe” which amounts to a shelter-in-place order for Dallas County effective as of 11:59 p.m. on March 23, 2020 until 11:59 p.m. on April 3, 2020, unless rescinded, superseded or amended. A full copy of the Amended Order is linked here.

So, what does this mean for Dallas County residents and businesses?


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First, all residents living in Dallas County are ordered to shelter at their place of residence (with residences including hotels, motels, shared rentals, and similar facilities) and that they should not leave their residences except for “Essential Activities.” Essential Activities are defined to include acts such as obtaining medical supplies, medication and food, visiting a healthcare professional, obtaining supplies needed to work from home, obtaining (or delivering to others) other products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences, engaging in outdoor activities compliant with the social distancing requirements of six feet (for example, walking, biking, hiking or running), performing work providing essential products and services at an Essential Business (described below), and caring for a family member or pet in another household.

Additionally, and of equal importance, all businesses in Dallas County, except for Essential Businesses, are ordered to “cease all activities” at facilities located within the County, with the Amended Order clarifying that businesses in the County may continue operations “consisting exclusively of employees or contractors performing activities at their own residences.” Essential Businesses include the following general classifications:

You can read the rest of the article on the CCSB website