Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins placed sweeping new restrictions on Texas’ second-largest county Monday in an effort to “stem the tide” of coronavirus.
Mirroring an announcement made by Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, Jenkins’ order means restaurants can only do takeout service, shutters movie theaters and gyms and bans all gatherings larger than 50. Additionally, if anyone in a home has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the entire household must isolate, Jenkins said.
Also in the order: Nursing homes and long-care facilities must prohibit nonessential guests, all public and private schools and higher education institutions must provide a safety plan to the county government 72 hours before students return to class, and all sick employees — public or private — must stay home.
The order is in place until March 20, Jenkins said at a 5 p.m. news conference. He said he would seek to extend the order later this week. The Dallas County Commissioners Court is scheduled to meet Thursday to review the situation.
“We have to turn from selfishness to sacrifice," Jenkins said. “There are no good choices, there are no easy choices in this fight.”
But he added, “Good things are happening, too."
The county is set to open two large testing clinics in Grand Prairie and at American Airlines Center. Jenkins estimated that the sites will be able to test 5,000 people a week. Currently, Dallas County can test only about 42 people a day. According to the mayor’s office, the county has tested only 88 people so far. More details on the new testing sites would be released later this week, Jenkins said.
While the county’s order will supersede any other city order, Jenkins said, he needed the region and state to work together in order for these restrictions to work.
“This government will do all that we can to keep you safe,” he said. “But we need our governor and our regional partners to come together. We need the state to come in and lay out some perimeters."
Late last week, the judge ordered a ban on groups larger than 500. Since then, public and health officials at all levels have stressed social distancing in an effort to limit the virus’ spread.
Earlier in the day, Dallas County announced five more confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, bringing the total to 19. Among the new cases, one person likely caught the virus through community spread, health officials said.
Hours before Jenkins made his announcement, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott promised a greater proliferation of tests.
“By the end of this week, everyone who needs a COVID-19 test will be able to get a COVID-19 test, the fact is not everyone needs one,” he said, adding a doctor’s recommendation would be required to secure a test.
Abbott’s comments also were meant to prepare the public for a spike in the number of people confirmed to have COVID-19.
Also on Monday, President Donald Trump announced new guidelines for Americans to help stop the spread of coronavirus: Limit gatherings to fewer than 10 people, don’t travel and eat at home.
“We have an invisible enemy,” Trump said. “My focus is on getting rid of this virus problem.”
