Dallas County residents are being ordered to stay in their homes except for crucial work and errands, beginning at 11:59 p.m. Monday. All businesses that aren’t deemed essential also must stop operating.
County Judge Clay Jenkins announced the strictest limits in Texas on social gatherings, work and movement Sunday evening.
His order came the same day the number of positive cases of coronavirus cases in the county surpassed 100 and the death toll rose to three. It’s the latest update to restrictions on gatherings that were implemented March 12. Residents who violate the order may face a fine or jail time.
The extraordinary escalation puts an end to social gatherings of almost any kind, a move Jenkins said he was not ready to take only days ago.
“This order is our best chance to flatten the curve here in Dallas County and save as many lives as possible," he said. “It makes me sick that we’re at this point.”
Residents may exercise and walk their pets outside, but they must stay at least 6 feet from other people. Restaurants may continue to deliver meals, and grocery stores may stay open. DART trains and buses will also continue to run.
However, religious services must be broadcast and must limit the staff members on-site to 10. Weddings are prohibited. Funerals may go on, but social distancing is required. Elective surgery and dental work must be rescheduled.
The measures are meant to dramatically reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus that leads to COVID-19.
As of Sunday night, there were more than 600 positive cases of COVID-19 in Texas, according to The Dallas Morning News’ database of reported cases.
For most, the new virus causes only moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority recover. However, there is no cure and much is unknown about the virus, which health experts says moves more “efficiently” than others. So far, 40% of all infected people reported in Dallas had not traveled recently outside the state, leading Jenkins and others to believe the virus has a strong foothold in the community.
Jenkins said he was convinced the state’s health care system would be overrun by late April if stricter rules weren’t put in place.
“The goal of this order is never to exceed our hospital capacity and to minimize the catastrophic outcomes we’ve seen in other countries because they waited too long,” he said.
The judge was flanked by graphics that suggested the state’s hospitals could run out of beds by April 28 and that as many as 480,000 Texans could die under the current limits on gatherings. The numbers were based in part on models by the Imperial College of London and were published online at covidactnow.org.
The shelter-in-place orders echo similar restrictions in California and New York.
Earlier Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott said he was not prepared to implement such limits statewide, noting that most Texas counties have not reported a positive COVID-19 case.
He suggested that local authorities put stricter policies in place if they deem them necessary.
“At this time it is not the appropriate approach to enforce that strict standard statewide,” Abbott said.
Jenkins, who earlier pressured Abbott to shutter restaurants statewide, reiterated his hope Sunday that the governor would reconsider.
“I was so in hopes this would be a statewide ban and I would not be standing here tonight," he said, adding later: “We’re headed to a point of no return if we continue to dawdle.”
Following the order, County Commissioner J.J. Koch, a Republican who represents northern Dallas County, advised surrounding counties — specifically Collin, Denton and Tarrant counties — to follow suit.
“This is nonpartisan action,” he said. “We have to step up and do the right thing. If we do not, we will be punished — and severely.”
Koch noted that Parkland Hospital & Health System has 159 ventilators, and other regional hospitals in the area have no more than 700 combined. The virus, which can cause shortness of breath and double pneumonia, requires hospitalization in dire cases.
“After we get 10,000 cases, we are going to have to ask our doctors to choose who lives and who drowns to death from disease,” he said. “We are going to have to ask doctors to decide who is going to be living and dying within the next two weeks.”
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said in a written statement that the city is still figuring out how best to enforce the county’s orders but that he supports keeping people at home.
“While this approach likely means our city will experience economic difficulties, our top priority is public health, and it’s vitally important that we take the steps necessary to save lives and prevent strain on our health-care system.”
Johnson echoed Jenkins’ call for statewide action, saying the virus “does not respect political boundaries."
”I believe a statewide or regional approach, as opposed to a county-by-county or city-by-city approach, is the best way to defeat this pandemic and defeat it quickly."
But In Tarrant County, commissioners voted Sunday evening to extend an order that closes a number of businesses but does not require residents to shelter in place.
Noting Dallas County’s shelter-in-place order, Commissioner Roy Charles Brooks argued for a similar decree.
“I hate that we’re always following Dallas County, but it’s the right thing to do for us in Tarrant County,” he said.
Tarrant County Judge B. Glen Whitley disagreed, saying that there hadn’t been enough time to gauge the result of the current restrictions, which went into effect Saturday evening.
Those restrictions — which limit gatherings to 10 people; stop in-person worship services; and close businesses including bars, gyms, hair salons, malls, theaters and retailers that don’t sell essential household items — are now extended until 11:59 p.m. April 5.
“A lot of people think I’m crazy for even putting these restrictions on, and I hope they’re right,” Whitley said.
“I’m not saying that you’re right or wrong,” said Brooks, who attended the meeting over the phone. “What I’m saying is you’re not going far enough.”
Commissioners also amended the order to allow for the punishment of violators with a fine of up to $1,000 or up to 180 days in jail per offense.
Officials will revisit the order at Tuesday’s regular Commissioners Court meeting.
Jenkins’ order for Dallas County expires April 3. However, he said he expects county commissioners to extend it. Earlier portions of his order remain in place: nursing homes must restrict visitation, entire households must isolate if any member tests positive for the virus, and noise ordinances are suspended for delivery trucks to make their way to grocery stores.
What sheltering in place will mean in Dallas County
- Anyone residing in Dallas County must stay in their home, apartment or hotel or motel room.
- They may leave if they work at an essential job or need to run an essential errand, such as going to the grocery store or doctor’s office.
- All gatherings — public or private — outside a household are banned regardless of size.
- Outside exercise is permitted. So is walking pets. But you must walk, run or bike 6 feet away from other people.
- What is an essential job? Broadly, health care work is considered essential, as are government jobs that provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public, such as first responders. People who work in construction, public transportation, utilities (water, sewer, gas, electric, sanitation, internet, telecommunications, etc.) are also considered essential, as well as food service providers, such as grocery stores and restaurants that prepare food only for delivery or carry-out.
- Residents are prohibited from attending religious services. They may be broadcast, but only 10 staff members are allowed on-site during the taping.
- Weddings are prohibited. Funerals are allowed, but social distancing of 6 feet is required.
- All elective surgeries and dental work are prohibited. Routine checkups are discouraged, in order to help preserve medical supplies. People should consult with their health care providers.
Update: This article has been updated to reflect that physical therapy and chiropractors are now considered essential services and permitted under the order.
