Tarrant County extends stay-home order; community spread prevents in-person worship
Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley on Friday modified elements of a disaster order related to the novel coronavirus.
The new order extends the county’s disaster declaration and stay-at-home decree to April 30. The previous order was to end on Tuesday.
A supplemental chart attached to the new Whitley order makes clear that the way in which the virus has begun to spread in the county has triggered an end to in-person religious worship.
As of Friday, “the Tarrant County public health officer identifies substantial community spread/transmission; therefore, all in-person gatherings of any size are prohibited,” according to the order supplement.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday announced a statewide edict that sparked confusion with local governments that had already enacted orders. Whitley said the updated Tarrant County order clarifies differences between local and state mandates.
The updated order expands the definition of essential businesses and removes a reference to grocery store price gouging. Whitley had wanted to thwart stores marking up necessary products, but the Attorney General’s office said it would handle enforcing price gouging.
Whitley said he and District Attorney Sharen Wilson had spent about two hours hashing out the local order with the Texas Attorney General’s office on Thursday night.
After closing non-essential businesses, Fort Worth, Arlington and Tarrant County on March 24 jointly ordered residents to stay home until at least April 7. Dallas County on Friday extended its stay-at-home order through April 30.
The City of Arlington also has extended its order through April 30.
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price on Tuesday said she expected the city council to extend its order through April 30.
This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 10:56 PM.
