Lubbock Times

City of Crosbyton issued the following announcement on April 7

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, 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: an

WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020 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, declaring a state of disaster will facilitate and expedite the use and deployment of resources to enhance preparedness and response; and

WHEREAS, in light of recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control regarding social distancing protocols, it is necessary to issue guidance regarding public and private gatherings in order to mitigate the spread or the disease and preserve and protect public health: and:

WHEREAS, it is critical for the City of Crosbyton to take additional steps to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate the spread of COVID19 to protect the health and welfare of the citizens of Crosbyton and the surrounding area: and

WHEREAS, on March 19, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott issued statewide orders: and,

WHEREAS, on March 22, 2020, the Governor advised that all Texans should remain at home as much as possible unless they have a pressing need to leave home to go to work at an essential job, to go to the doctor or a healthcare facility, or to go to the grocery store or a gas station: and

WHEREAS, on March 22, 2020 the Governor encouraged local leaders to issue guidance in support of his Executive Orders which are tailored to the unique issues facing the local communities: and

WHEREAS, as of April 4, 2020, there are 151 confirmed cases of COVID-19 located in multiple Texas counties; and 

WHEREAS, as of April 4, 2020, there is one confirmed cases in Crosby County; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CROSBYTON, TEXAS that

1)  COVID-19 poses an imminent threat of disaster to the City of Crosbyton: and

2)  Pursuant to §418.108(a) of the Government Code, a local state of disaster is hereby declared for the City of Crosbyton, Texas; and

3)  Pursuant to §418.108(b) of the Government Code, the state of disaster shall continue for a period of not more than seven days from the date of this declaration unless continued or renewed by the City Council of Crosbyton; and

4)  Pursuant to §418.108(c) of the Government Code, this declaration shall be given prompt and general publicity and shall be filed promptly with the City Secretary; and

5)  Pursuant to §418.108(d) of the Government Code, this declaration of a local state of disaster activates the city’s emergency management plan. The furnishing of aid and assistance under the declaration is hereby authorized.  The appropriate preparedness and response aspects of the plan are activated and take effect immediately after this local state of disaster is declared: and

6)  The use of all available resources of the City of Crosbyton that are reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster are hereby authorized: and

7)  To the extent permitted by law, any local enforcement or administrative rule prescribing the procedures for conduct of City business or any local ordinance or administrative rule that would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with this disaster, including any local ordinance or administrative rule regarding contracting or procurement which would impede the City’s emergency response necessary to cope with this declared disaster, are hereby suspended, but only for the duration of this local disaster and only for that limited purpose: and

8)  Pursuant to §418.108(g) of the Government Code, the Mayor of the City of Crosbyton may control ingress to and egress from a disaster area within the incorporated limits of the City of Crosbyton and control the movement of persons and the occupancy of premises in that area: and

9)  Pursuant to §122.006 of the Health and Safety Code, the City of Crosbyton may adopt rules to protect the health of persons in the municipality, including quarantine rules to protect the residents against communicable disease: and

10) The virus that causes COVID-19 is easily transmitted, especially in group settings, and it is essential that the spread of the virus be slowed to protect the ability of public and private health care providers to handle an influx of patients and safeguard public health and safety.

STAY AT HOME

11) All persons residing in the Crosbyton are ordered to STAY AT HOME or at their current place of residence. For purposes of this Order, “residence” includes 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;

12) All public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside of a single household are hereby prohibited, except as otherwise provided in this Declaration. Nothing in this Declaration prohibits gatherings of members of a single household or living unit (an apartment for use by one family);

13) Travel away from a person’s regular place of residence should be only for the purpose of obtaining essential goods and services or to the person’s place of employment which furnishes essential goods or services…

14)  Any person who is sick or currently experiencing common COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, cough, or shortness of breath, is hereby ordered to STAY AT HOME until such time that:

1. He or she has no fever for at least 72 without the use of fever reducing medicine, such as Tylenol: and
2. His or her other symptoms have improved: and
3. At least 14 days have passed since the symptoms first appeared.

If any person in a household has tested positive for COVID-19, all persons in the household are hereby ordered to STAY AT HOME and self-quarantine for a period of at least 14 days. Member s of the household may not travel to work, school, or anywhere else until cleared by a medical professional.

This order does not prohibit any person from leaving his or her residence to seek medical or emergency care.

SPECIFIC PROHIBITIONS

15)  In accordance with the Guidelines form the Governor, the President and the CDC, eating or drinking at bars, restaurants, and food courts, or visiting gyms or massage parlors is hereby prohibited; provided, however, that the use of drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options is allowed and highly encouraged throughout the limited duration of this Declaration; and

16)  In accordance with the Guidelines from the Governor, the President and the CDC, visiting at nursing homes or retirement or long-term care facilities is hereby prohibited unless to provide critical assistance.

17)  Any time a minor (16 years & under) leaves their residence, they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

18)   ATV’s, golf carts, and non-street legal vehicles prohibited on any streets by non-licensed drivers.

19)  Curfew from 10:00 p.m.-5:00 a.m. unless for work.

SPECIFIC CLOSURES

20)  In accordance with the Guidelines from the Governor, the President and the CDC, the following commercial businesses, for which social distancing guidelines are impractical or impossible, are hereby prohibited and are ordered to cease operation and close:

1. i) Non-essential Personal Services Businesses. Businesses which engage in direct,       person-to-person services to the public which are not time-sensitive and which are not required for the immediate health or safety of the recipient, including, without limitation, hair salons, barbershops, hair stylists, nail salons, tattoo parlors, piercing businesses, tanning salons, and hair removal waxing businesses;
2. ii) Non-essential Retail Establishments. Retail businesses which do not primarily sell or provide sell or provide the products or services described in 21), below;

ESSENTIAL SERVICES

21)  The following businesses are hereby deemed essential and may continue to operate, provided federal and CDC guidelines are followed, including affirmative steps to ensure that social distancing of 6 feet is maintained:

1. i) Grocery Stores, Convenience Stores, Drug Stores, Pharmacies, and Package Stores;
2. ii) Healthcare Providers and Healthcare Facilities;

iii)  Vehicle Fueling, Maintenance, and Repair Facilities;

1. iv) Banks and Financial Institutions;
2. v) Professional Services, including attorneys, accountants, engineers, title companies, insurance agents, and other licensed professionals.
3. vi) Office Buildings, where people work in individual enclosed spaces in groups of 10 or less;

vii)  Day Care Facilities;

viii)  Essential Government Services and Facilities;

1. ix) Residential Buildings, including hotels and motels (except Group Meeting and Event Spaces);

22)  Retail Establishments not specifically described above as “Essential” are closed to customers; however, the use of drive through Pickup, Delivery, and Curb-side Delivery for merchandise is allowed and encouraged, provided federal and CDC guidelines are followed, including affirmative steps to ensure that social distancing of 6 feet is maintained, including for customers waiting to pick up merchandise.

ALL OTHER BUSINESSES

23) Any business which is permitted to remain open and which does not specifically meet one of the categories described above is hereby required to adhere to federal and CDC guidelines, including affirmative steps to ensure that social distancing of 6 feet is maintained, including for anyone waiting to enter the premises, and at no time are more than ten persons permitted to be inside the premises, inclusive of employees and customers.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

24)  The local Health Department may require additional occupancy, sanitations, signage, and social distancing practices for any business which remains open, to ensure that businesses comply with the Guidelines from the Governor, the President and the CDC; and

25)  For ANY workplace that remains open, management of the business should facilitate and encourage practicing social distancing and good hygiene and, where feasible, require employees to work from home in order to achieve optimum isolation from COVID-19; and

26)  The Mayor may update the restrictions set out in this order as necessary to respond to the evolving circumstances of the outbreak during the duration of the Disaster Declaration issued on March 17, 2020 and any extension of the Declaration by the City Council of the City of Lubbock.

ENFORCEMENT

27)  Pursuant to §418.173, failure to comply with an emergency management plan or with a rule, order, or ordinance adopted under the plan is an offense, punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days; and Peace officers and the Crosbyton Police Department are hereby authorized to enforce this order; and

28)  That this Declaration shall take effect at 8:00 P.M. on April 4, 2020, shall supersede and supplant all prior Declarations, and shall continue until 11:59 P.M. on April 30, 2020, subject to extension thereafter based on the status of COVID-19 in Texas and the recommendations of the CDC.

SO DECLARED and ORDERED on April 4, 2020 at 8:00 P.M.

 Original source can be found here.