Shelter In Place Ordered for Rockwall County. Takes Effect Tonight at 11:59 PM
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Rockwall County Judge David Sweet has issued a Shelter In Place order for all Rockwall County residents. The order goes into effect tonight at 11:59 PM. The order was issued at a special emergency meeting of the Rockwall County Commissioners Court this morning. The order is effective until April 15th.
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A shelter-in-place means that all residents must stay at home and all non-essential businesses must close in-person operations. Businesses that are considered essential include hospitals, television, gas stations, grocery stores and daycares.
The order allows for people to leave their homes for getting necessary items like medicine and groceries and to care for sick relatives, but otherwise must stay in their households.
Failure to comply is punishable by a fine up to $1,000 and/or 18 months in confinement.
Rockwall County has one confirmed case of COVID-19. The resident lives in the Rockwall County portion of Rowlett.
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Businesses not outlined in the essential businesses section(listed below) may continue to operate as long as employees or contractors work from home.
People may continue to get take-out, delivery or drive-thru services from restaurants, micro-breweries, micro-distilleries and wineries, according to the order.
The order does permit people to do activities, such as walking, biking, hiking or running, outdoors as long as people maintain social distancing requirements.
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All elective medical, dental, or cosmetic procedures are also ordered to be postponed until the order is lifted.
Dallas Morning News created a list of what’s considered essential business and industry. These are guidelines from the Dallas County Order. Once the text of the Rockwall County order is made available we will verify that Rockwall County’s order is the same. You can find the list below:
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‘Essential’ health care businesses
- Hospitals
- In-home health care for seniors, adults or children
- Clinics
- Dentists
- Pharmacies
- Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
- Health care suppliers
- Mental health providers
- Substance-abuse service providers
- Blood banks
- Medical research facilities
- Laboratory services
- Veterinary care for animals
‘Essential’ government functions
- Government functions that are “needed to ensure the continuing operation of the government agencies to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public” are broadly included.
‘Essential’ infrastructure businesses
- Public works construction
- Residential and commercial construction
- Airport operations
- Water, sewer, gas and electrical businesses
- Oil refining
- Road and highway work
- Public transportation (including DART rail and buses)
- Solid waste collection and removal
- Internet and telecommunications systems businesses
- Financial institutions
- Defense and national security-related operations
- Essential manufacturing operations
- Grocery stores
- Warehouse stores
- Big-box stores
- Bodegas
- Liquor stores
- Gas stations and convenience stores
- Farmers markets that sell food products and household staples
- Businesses that ship or deliver groceries directly to homes
- Restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food are only permitted to remain open for delivery or carryout services
- Laundromats, dry cleaners and laundry service providers
- Automotive suppliers as well as auto and bicycle repair services
- Hardware stores
- Any business that supplies products needed for people to work remotely during the pandemic
- Businesses that provide social services and services necessary to life for the economically disadvantaged
- Trash and recycling collection, processing and disposal
- Mail and shipping services
- Building cleaning and maintenance
- Warehouse, distribution and fulfillment services
- Storage services for essential businesses included in this list
- Funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries
- Plumbers, electricians, exterminators and other services necessary for maintaining the safety, sanitation and operations of residences and businesses included in this list
- Professional services such as legal and accounting services for businesses included in this list
- News media
- Child care facilities that provide services to employees of businesses included in this list.
- Ride-hailing services like Uber, Lyft and delivery drivers are also essential services, according to a tweet from Judge Jenkins on Monday.
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