A Texas county that has been hit by the coronavirus pandemic issued a new order to stay home on Monday.
The Hidalgo County director of emergency health ordered residents to take refuge in place and follow a curfew from 10 pm to 5 am. The order officially takes effect on Wednesday at 12:01 am and is scheduled to last until August 5 at 11:59 pm
The order allows people to leave their homes if they have essential jobs, experience medical emergencies, obtain essential services, or participate in outdoor activities. Those in shared physical spaces and outdoors must have a social distance of at least six feet.
As Director of Emergency Management, County Judge Richard F. Cortez signed a new county order for all residents and visitors in Hidalgo County. Includes home shelter, curfew, essential travel limitations, and facial coverage requirements.
FULL ORDER HERE: https://t.co/ieZ73rR8pB pic.twitter.com/2O4eEiHHTk
– Hidalgo County (@HidalgoCounty) July 21, 2020
The order also says that “all non-essential companies are” strongly encouraged and recommended “to cease all on-site activities that cannot be provided by sidewalk, roadside, or take-away services.”
The county order also establishes a requirement that minors under the age of 17 be accompanied by a parent or guardian when out of the home for an essential activity.
The Hidalgo County order comes when the county reported 524 new cases of COVID-19 and 34 more deaths on Monday. Overall, the county has seen 12,787 positive COVID-19 cases and 318 deaths, according to your data.
The eighth-largest county in Texas ranks sixth with the most cases of coronavirus, according to the Texas Department of Health Services.
In recent weeks, the Lone Star State has struggled to combat the growing number of coronavirus cases as it has become one of the epicenters of the pandemic in the United States.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) has required that everyone use facial coatings in public buildings.
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