Local News

Dallas County Ordering Residents to Stay Home, Stay Safe

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins issued an order on March 22, 2020, telling all residents of the second-largest county in Texas to stay home. The Stay Home Stay Safe order came as Covid-19 cases in Dallas County rose to 131. The executive order went into effect at 11:59 p.m. March 23, and lasts until April 3. Jenkins said the order may need to be extended till the end of April, or “for as long as it takes us to get through this crisis.”

Jenkins said he had hoped Governor Abbott would issue a statewide shelter-in-place order earlier that day. However, the Texas governor stopped short of asking all 254 counties (most of them with no cases of Covid-19) to obey such a strict order. The governor added that local leaders who took more strict actions should be applauded. Jenkins said he hoped other North Texas counties would follow his lead.

Bare Shelves at Aldi’s

Dallas County Ordering Residents to Stay Home, Stay Safe

Photo: Holt

The only Dallas County businesses allowed to open are those who provide essential services. Food, fuel, pet supply, health care, hardware, and liquor stores are open. Funeral homes can also stay open, along with hospitals and clinics. All elective surgeries and dental procedures are banned, to help free up more hospital beds. People providing essential government and infrastructure services, along with media, are permitted to keep working. So are those who provide childcare for employees performing essential jobs.

What activities are considered essential for the rest of us? We can pick up food or medicine, keep doctor appointments, or take our pets to the vet. We can also buy gas at the local service station. Restaurants and bars in Dallas County had already been shuttered for anything but drive-through or take-out service. Those establishments unable to deliver or provide curbside service were forced to close. Hopefully, only temporarily.

Schools Closed

Dallas County Ordering Residents to Stay Home, Stay Safe

Photo: Holt

Hair and nail salons, barbershops, spas, and tattoo parlors were ordered to close March 21. We can no longer send the kids to school, since those have been closed for several weeks. Rumors are they may not open again for spring semester. It’s sad to think seniors might miss their Prom, Senior Trip, and even graduation night.

With their kids at home all day, parents have had to learn new teaching skills… and patience. One friend with a master’s degree says she has discovered that sixth-grade math isn’t as easy as it used to be. Parents are also holding in-home church services, since all houses of worship are closed for gatherings. Some religious services are available by video, with others on the radio or TV stations.