Tarrant County Judge B. Glen Whitley issued a stay at home order for Tarrant County on Tuesday, which goes into effect at midnight on March 24 and lasts until April 7, according to a press release.
“We are working closely with state and local officials to help stop the spread of the Coronavirus,” said Mayor Laura Hill in the press release. “The Governor’s updated executive order, and Tarrant County’s updated orders are the tools we need to help protect the public’s health.”
Tarrant County residents will only be able to leave their homes for essential travel, for essential work and for essential activities.
Essential travel includes medical travel such as going to the doctor or picking up medicine, going grocery shopping, exercising outside while keeping six feet distance between people or caring for family members. Essential work includes healthcare professionals, government works, essential retail workers like those who work in grocery stores and gas stations.
Under this order, churches may not have in-person services and all elective medical, surgical and dental procedures are prohibited. Additionally, non-essential visitors are prohibited from visiting nursing homes and retirement and long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance or for end-of-life visitation.
Currently, Texas has 807 confirmed cases of coronavirus and Tarrant County has 71 confirmed cases and one death.