Tarrant County votes it can fine, jail those who disobey emergency coronavirus orders
Tarrant County officials voted to close non-essential businesses and impose civil penalties against those who disobey emergency plan orders on Sunday night.
The measures were part of an emergency meeting Sunday after Judge Glen Whitley issued an order to close non-essential businesses Saturday to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Non-essential businesses includes malls, retail stores, tattoo shops, hair and nail salons, and massage parlors. Bars, lounges, taverns and theaters had already been shut down last week, and restaurants were limited to take-out or delivery.
Tarrant County Commissioners unanimously voted to close those businesses until at least April 5. That excludes businesses listed by the Department of Homeland of Security as “critical infrastructure.”
Those businesses that will not be closed include pharmacies, grocery stores and businesses offering healthcare services. The declaration also specified that retail stores could continue online sales as long as employees were able to be 6 feet apart.
“This in no way, shape or form would close down essential obligations in the county,” Whitley said.
He said many of the businesses would have to use “common sense” to determine for themselves if they are non-essential or not. He used the example of a sports store and clarified that is not an essential business.
On March 19, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued an order specifying which workers are deemed essential to the country’s infrastructure.
The list of critical employees includes workers in the industries of medical and healthcare, telecommunications, information technology systems, defense, food and agriculture, transportation and logistics, energy, water and wastewater, law enforcement and public works.
Fines for disobeying emergency orders
Tarrant County commissioners unanimously passed several coronavirus-related measures Sunday night.
The first ruled if someone breaks an emergency order in the county’s emergency management plan, they can be fined up to $1,000 or jailed for up to 180 days. This also applies to businesses that are open against emergency orders.
“We are not looking to make money off this thing, we are looking to save lives,” Whitley said after the meeting ended.
The penalties will fall to individual cities to enforce. Whitley emphasized the use of “common sense and compassion” when determining if a fine or other punishment should be issued.
The measure mirrors the statewide declaration of civil penalties that Gov. Greg Abbott announced Sunday.
Some of the orders of the Tarrant County Emergency Management plan include:
- Gatherings of more than 10 people are banned.
- All non-essential retail businesses, including malls, retail stores, tattoo shops, hair and nail salons, and massage parlors must close as of 6 p.m. Saturday.
- Houses of worship, bars, lounges, theaters and other non-essential businesses must close.
- Restaurants must be drive-thru, delivery or pick-up only.
- If someone in a household tests positive for coronavirus, the household members must isolate at home
The fines went into effect immediately Sunday night.
Shelter-in-place order debate
While a shelter-in-place order was not on Sunday night’s agenda, officials and members of the public debated whether or not Tarrant County should order people to stay in their homes except for necessary outings.
On Sunday evening, Dallas County issued a county-wide shelter-in-place order via Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.
Tarrant County Commissioner Roy Brooks, who was attending the meeting via phone, said Tarrant County should follow suit. A shelter-in-place order was not up for vote Sunday night.
“I hate that we’re always following Dallas County, but it’s the right thing for us to do in Tarrant County at this time,” Brooks, a Democrat, said.
Democratic Commissioner Devan Allen said she agreed and said the county should do “as much as we can get out in front of this pandemic.”
Dozens of people called or wrote in to the court to voice their support or opposition to a shelter-in-place order in Tarrant County.
One caller, who identified herself as a Burleson resident, said Tarrant County should pass a shelter-in-place order.
“This is going to spread like wildfire if we don’t do something,” she said over the phone to Whitley.
Earlier Sunday, Abbott declined to issue a statewide shelter-in-place.
Brooks challenged Whitley on the particulars of a shelter-in-place order, arguing it would allow people to shop and take care of their essential needs.
“We would just be asking people to stay the heck at home,” Brooks said.
Whitley said a shelter-in-place would go too far and was not necessary in the county.
“A lot of people think I’m crazy for passing these restrictions,” Whitley said about the business restrictions passed Sunday. “If I am right, hopefully we will save a lot of lives.”
“I’m not saying you’re right or wrong, judge,” Brooks said. “I’m saying you’re not going far enough.”
Paid time off for county employees
A second resolution added Richland Hills and Forest Hill to Tarrant County’s emergency management plan.
The second measure allowed certain people who work for the county to receive two weeks of paid time off based on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which President Donald Trump enacted March 18.
Employees who work for Tarrant County will receive paid time off if they fall into any of the following categories:
- Are under orders to isolate or quarantine for COVID-19
- Have symptoms of or tested positive for COVID-19
- Are caring for a someone who has COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms
- Are caring for a child whose school or child care center closed due to COVID-19 precautions
This story was originally published March 22, 2020 at 9:27 PM.
