Lubbock Times

City of Crosbyton issued the following announcement on March 25

Whereas, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has been recognized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization and is a contagious respiratory virus; and

Whereas, as of March 16, 2020, there are 57 confirmed cases of COVID-19 located in multiple Texas counties; and

Whereas, as of March 17, 2020, there are no confirmed cases in Crosby County; and

Whereas, certain schools, universities, and other governmental entities are beginning to alter their schedules, and some venues are beginning to temporarily close, as precautionary responses to the increasing presence of COVID-19 in Texas; and

Whereas, costs incurred to prepare for and respond to COVID-19 are expected to mount at the local level; and

Whereas, the City of Crosbyton has already taken numerous steps to prepare for COVID-19, such as coordinating preparedness efforts across state and local agencies, and working with local partners to promote appropriate mitigation efforts; and

Whereas, it is critical for the City of Crosbyton to take additional steps to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 to protect the health and welfare of the citizens of Crosbyton and the surrounding area; and

Whereas, on March 13, 2020, pursuant to Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, the Governor declared a state of disaster for the State of Texas; and

Whereas, on the 17th day of March, 2020 at 7:00 P.M., the Mayor of the City of Crosbyton issued a Declaration of Disaster, pursuant to his authority under §418.108(a) of the Texas Government Code,

Whereas, the state of local disaster declared by the Mayor may continue for a period of not more than seven days from the date of the declaration unless continued or renewed by the City Council of Crosbyton,

AND WHEREAS, the City Council of Crosbyton has determined that it is necessary to renew and continue the state of local disaster,

Now, Therefore, It Is Hereby Resolved And Declared by the City Council Of the City of Crosbyton, Texas:

1. That the City Council consents to the Mayor’s Declaration of a Local State of Disaster, including restrictions on mass gatherings, and hereby renews and continues the local state of disaster for the City of Crosbyton, Texas pursuant to §418.108(b) of the Texas Government Code.
2. Pursuant to §418.108(c) of the Government Code, this renewal and continuation of the declaration of a local state of disaster, including restrictions on mass gatherings, shall be given prompt and general publicity and shall be filed promptly with the Crosbyton City Secretary.
3. Because of the risk of the rapid spread of the virus, and the need to protect the most vulnerable members of the community, this Declaration prohibits all indoor and outdoor public and private gatherings of 200 persons or more, anywhere in the City of Crosbyton, beginning at 5:00 P.M. on March 18, 2020; and
4. For all other gatherings, it is strongly recommended that citizens adhere to the Social Distancing Protocols established by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and
5. Further, organizations that serve high-risk populations (defined below) should follow the Social Distancing Protocols; and
6. Definitions and further guidance:
7. For purposes of this Declaration, a “Mass Gathering” is any event or convening, subject to the exceptions and clarifications set forth below, that brings together, or is likely to bring together, two hundred (200) or more persons at the same time in a single room or other single confined or enclosed space, such as, and without limitation, any auditorium, theatre, stadium (indoor or outdoor), arena or event center, meeting hall, conference center, cafeteria, or any other confined indoor or outdoor space.
8. A “Mass Gathering” includes events in confined outdoor spaces, which means an outdoor space that (i) is enclosed by a fence, physical barrier, or other structure and (ii) where people are present, and they are typically within arm’s length of one another for extended periods.
9. A “Mass Gathering” does not include the following:

(1) public or private schools;

(2) licensed day care facilities;

(3) places of worship;

(4) weddings and funerals;

(5) office space, hotels, or residential buildings;

(6) grocery stores, shopping malls, outdoor markets, or other retail establishments where large numbers of people are present but where it is unusual for them to be within arm’s length of one another for extended periods;

(7) hospitals, medical facilities, and shelters; and

(8) jails and detention centers.

In all such settings, it is recommended that the public voluntarily follow Social Distancing Protocols and harm reduction measures such as providing hand sanitizer and tissues, when possible. However, any large gathering space that is part of any building included in this subparagraph is subject to the prohibition on Mass Gatherings if the space holds 200 or more people.

1. “High-Risk Populations” include people who are:

(i) 60 years old and older;

(ii) People with certain health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease and weakened immune systems;

(iii) People who are pregnant or were pregnant in the last two weeks; and

(iv) People experiencing homelessness.

7. The Mayor may update the mass gathering restrictions set out in this Declaration as necessary to respond to the evolving circumstances of this outbreak during the duration of the Disaster Declaration issued on this date and any extension of the Declaration by the City Council of the City of Crosbyton; and
8. That this proclamation shall take effect immediately from and after its issuance; and
9. That the City Council shall review the local state of disaster and the restrictions on mass gatherings at its regularly scheduled meeting on April 21, 2020.

Original source can be found here.