Dallas County's "Stay Safe Stay Home" Order
Dallas County's "Stay Safe Stay Home" Order
Dallas County's "Stay Safe Stay Home" Order
WHEREAS, pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 418.108, Dallas County Judge Clay
Jenkins issued a Declaration of Local Disaster for Public Health Emergency on March 12, 2020,
due to a novel coronavirus now designated SARS-CoV2 which causes the disease COVID-19;
and,
WHEREAS, on March 12, 2020, Judge Jenkins issued an Order in furtherance of his authority to
protect the safety and welfare of the public by slowing the spread of the virus; and,
WHEREAS, the on-going evaluation of circumstances related to the virus and the updated
recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and the Texas Department of State Health
Services warrant the March 12, 2020 Order of County Judge Clay Jenkins be amended;
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, President Trump acknowledged the gravity of the COVID-19
pandemic, releasing strict new guidelines to limit people’s interactions, including that Americans
should avoid groups of more than 10 people;
WHEREAS, on March 19, 2020, the Dallas County Commissioners Court issued an Order of
Continuance of Declaration of Local Disaster for Public Health Emergency that affirmed the
activation of the Dallas County Emergency Management Plan and extends the Declaration of Local
Disaster until 11:59 p.m. on April 3, 2020, unless rescinded by order of the Commissioners Court.
THEREFORE, the March 12, 2020, Order of County Judge Clay Jenkins is hereby AMENDED
as follows:
Summary: The virus that causes 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) is easily transmitted
through person to person contact, 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 the
influx of new patients and safeguard public health and safety. Because of the risk of the rapid
spread of the virus, and the need to protect the most vulnerable members of the community, this
Order requires all individuals anywhere in Dallas County to shelter in place – that is, stay at home
– except for certain essential activities and work to provide essential business and government
services or perform essential public infrastructure construction, including housing. This Order
takes effect at 11:59 p.m. on March 23, 2020 and will continue through 11:59 p.m. on April 3,
2020, subject to the limited exceptions and under the terms and conditions more particularly set
forth below.
1. Effective as of 11:59 p.m. on March 23, 2020, and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on April 3,
2020:
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(a) All individuals currently living within Dallas County are ordered to shelter at
their place of residence. For the purposes of this Order, residences include
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. All persons may leave their residences
only for Essential Activities, or to provide or perform Essential Governmental
Functions, or to operate Essential Businesses, all as defined in Section 2.
(b) All businesses operating within Dallas County, except Essential Businesses as
defined in below in Section 2, are required to cease all activities at facilities
located within the County. For clarity, businesses may continue operations
consisting exclusively of employees or contractors performing activities at their
own residences (i.e. working from home). To the greatest extent possible, all
Essential Businesses shall comply with the Social Distancing Guidelines
attached, including maintaining six foot social distancing for both employees
and the general public.
(c) All public or private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a
single household or living unit are prohibited, except as otherwise provided
herein. Nothing in this Order prohibits the gathering of members of a household
or living unit.
(d) Restaurants with or without drive-in or drive-through services and
microbreweries, micro-distilleries, or wineries may only provide take out, delivery, or
drive-through services as allowed by law.
(e) Religious and worship services may only be provided by video and
teleconference. Religious institutions must limit in-person staff to ten (10) people or less
when preparing for or conducting video or teleconference services, and all individuals must
follow the Social Distancing Guidelines including the six foot social distancing.
(f) All elective medical, surgical, and dental procedures are prohibited anywhere in
Dallas County. Hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, dental offices, and other medical
facilities are directed to identify procedures that are deemed "elective" by assessing which
procedures can be postponed or cancelled based on patient risk considering the emergency
need for redirection of resources to COVID-19 response.
2. Definitions:
a. For purposes of this Order, individuals may leave their residence only to perform
any of the following “Essential Activities”:
i. To engage in activities or perform tasks essential to their health and safety,
or to the health and safety of their family or household members (for
example, obtaining medical supplies or medication, visiting a health care
professional, or obtaining supplies need to work from home).
ii. To obtain necessary services or supplies for themselves and their family or
household members, or to deliver those services or supplies to others (for
example, food, pet supply, and any other household consumer products, and
products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation
of residences.
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iii. To engage in outdoor activity, provided the individuals comply with social
distancing requirements of six feet (for example, walking, biking, hiking, or
running).
iv. To perform work providing essential products and services at an Essential
Business or to otherwise carry out activities specifically permitted in this
Order.
v. To care for a family member or pet in another household.
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3. Any manufacturer who retools so that a substantial part of their business is for the purpose
of manufacturing and producing ventilators may apply for an “essential business”
exemption under this Order.
4. Grocery stores, supermarkets, warehouse stores, hospitals, and medical facilities are
experiencing high levels of demand for a large number of products, requiring more
deliveries from manufacturers and distribution centers to serve their customers. A number
of Texas cities and local associations have implemented restrictions on delivery hours to
stores to mitigate truck noise and traffic. Due to the need to deliver products as quickly and
efficiently as possible during this critical timeframe, this Order hereby suspends all
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delivery hour restrictions for transport to or from any entity involved in the selling or
distribution of food products, medicine, or medical supplies in Dallas County for the next
60 days.
5. Due to increased demand for bath or toilet tissue resulting from stock up buying and
individuals who purchase for resale, a mandatory limit on toilet paper sales is instituted
until the supply chain meets the demand or two weeks, whichever comes first. All sales of
bath or toilet tissue occurring in Dallas County are limited to the greater of: (a) twelve (12)
rolls per purchase or (b) one (1) package per purchase.
6. Due to the public health emergency, the Office of the Dallas County Judge hereby
advises the Dallas County Justices of the Peace to suspend eviction hearings and writs of
possession for at least the next 60 days to prevent renters from being displaced.
7. If someone in a household has tested positive for coronavirus, the household is ordered to
isolate at home. Members of the household cannot go to work, school, or any other
community function.
8. Nursing homes, retirement, and long-term care facilities are instructed by this order to
prohibit non-essential visitors from accessing their facilities unless to provide critical
assistance or for end-of-life visitation.
9. Public and private schools and institutions of higher education are instructed by this order
to provide a safety plan to Dallas County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency
Management 72 hours before students return to a classroom settings.
10. Additionally, the Office of the Dallas County Judge and the Health Authority instructs all
employees to remain at home if sick. Employees of private businesses and nonprofits with
six or more employees in the City of Dallas can use their paid sick leave when they are
sick or to care for sick family members.
11. This Order shall be effective until 11:59 p.m. on April 3, 2020, or until it is either rescinded,
superseded, or amended pursuant to applicable law.
12. The County of Dallas must promptly provide copies of this Order by posting on the Dallas
County Health and Human Services website. In addition, the owner, manager, or operator
of any facility that is likely to be impacted by this Order is strongly encouraged to post a
copy of this Order onsite and to provide a copy to any member of the public asking for a
copy. If any subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this Order or any application
of it to any person, structure, gathering, or circumstance is held to be invalid or
unconstitutional by a decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, then such decision will
not affect the validity of the remaining portions or applications of this Order.
IT IS SO ORDERED
CLAY JENKINS
DALLAS COUNTY JUDGE
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You can also prepare for the disruption caused by an outbreak. Preparedness actions include:
Prepare to work from home if that is possible for your job, and your employer.
Make sure you have a supply of all essential medications for your family.
Prepare a child care plan if you or a caregiver are sick.
Make arrangements about how your family will manage school closures.
Plan for how you can care for a sick family member without getting sick yourself.
Take care of each other and check in by phone with friends, family and neighbors that are
vulnerable to serious illness or death if they get COVID-19.
Keep common spaces clean to help maintain a healthy environment for you and others.
Frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned regularly with disinfecting sprays, wipes
or common household cleaning products.