‘All businesses are essential.’ Collin County’s stay-at-home order won’t close businesses
Collin County joined other North Texas counties on Tuesday morning by issuing a stay-at-home order, but the declaration includes one large exemption: Businesses, even those that may be considered non-essential in other counties, can stay open.
In Tarrant and Dallas counties, non-essential businesses such as shopping malls, movie theaters and bars have been ordered to close down in an effort to control the spread of the coronavirus. But Collin County’s stay-at-home order that went into effect Tuesday morning, which was signed by Judge Chris Hill, notes that “all businesses, jobs and workers are essential to the financial health and well-being of our local economy.”
Businesses and employers do have to follow protocols, per the order, including increasing social distancing and providing a safe and healthy work environment. Social distancing is generally understood to mean staying at least 6 feet away from other people, avoiding large gatherings and working at home if possible, according to the order.
Gatherings in the county have already capped at 10 people due to Gov. Greg Abbott’s statewide executive order detailing various social restrictions.
There have been 45 cases of coronavirus in Collin County, according to the county health department. One person has died from the virus and eight people have recovered.
When asked why the county isn’t limiting businesses to essential services like Dallas County, Hill reiterated what’s included in the order about all businesses being essential, according to Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV.
Many Twitter users expressed dissatisfaction with Collin County’s actions on Tuesday morning, saying it didn’t go far enough to protect citizens from the spread of COVID-19.
The Collin County order comes as reports indicate President Donald Trump and other Republican Party leaders are considering reopening the economy at the end of the government’s 15-day period on social restrictions. That has led to debates online over the value of boosting the economy versus the value of saving human lives.
Collin County’s stay-at-home order notes that “all persons in Collin County are hereby ordered to stay home, except for travel related to essential activities.” Entertainment activities, according to the order, aren’t essential.
If any member of a household tests positive for COVID-19, all other members must stay home until cleared by a doctor.
The order doesn’t prohibit anyone from leaving the home to seek medical care.
This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 12:39 PM.
