Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra on Wednesday issued a countywide order for residents to stay-at-home beginning March 26. Through April 10, a curfew will remain in effect from 11:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. for all non-essential workers. The order could be rescinded or extended as necessary.
Day care facilities that serve essential workers can remain open, with restrictions on how they operate in order to help ensure children and employees do not spread the virus. Healthcare businesses, grocery stores, hardware stores, news media, gas stations, restaurants offering to-go and/or delivery of food, and many other essential businesses will not have to close. Persons providing electrical, plumbing, and other essential services can continue to work, as can those who work from home.
All public or private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit are prohibited, but nothing in the order prohibits the gathering of members of a household or living unit. People may still go outside to exercise – walking, hiking, running, dog-walking, etc. – provided they practice social distancing guidelines and keep six feet of space between themselves and others who do not live in their same households.
“I have been working with the mayors in Hays County to design a Stay at Home, Work Safe Order that everyone is comfortable with, and worked tirelessly with our General Counsel to make the Order easy to understand,” Becerra said.
