Hale County, City of Plainview issue stay-at-home order amid COVID-19 concerns

(The following is a news release from the City of Plainview)

Hale County Judge David Mull and the City of Plainview Mayor Wendell Dunlap joined with our friends in Lubbock and around the South Plains to issue a Stay-At-Home Directive for residents of City of Plainview and Hale County effective from Tuesday (March 31) 11:59 p.m. to Monday (April 6) 11:59 p.m. in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

The Order states:

All persons residing in Hale County are ordered to Stay at Home or their current place of residence.
All public gatherings of ANY number of people occurring outside a single household are prohibited.
Travel from a person’s regular place of residence should only be for obtaining essential goods and services or to the person’s place of employment which furnishes essential goods and services.
Any person who is sick or currently experiencing common COVID-19 symptoms is hereby ordered to stay home and follow COVID-19 protocol.
No visits to nursing homes, retirement or long-term care facilities unless to provide essential care.

Specific Closures in the Order:

Non-essential Personal Service Businesses (including hair salons, barbershops, hair stylists, nail salons, tattoo parlors, piercing businesses, tanning salons and hair removal/waxing businesses)
Commercial Amusement and Entertainment Venues
Enclosed Shopping Malls
Group Meeting Spaces
Non-essential Retail Establishments (curbside, drive-through and delivery are encouraged)
Park Amenities such as playgrounds, basketball courts, tennis courts, baseball fields, athletic fields for group sports, skate parks, group pavilions (parks are still available for walking, running and general exercise)

Essential Services Remain Open: (must enforce social distancing to the maximum extent possible)

Grocery Stores, Convenience Stores, Drug Stores, Pharmacies & Package Stores
Pet supply and Vet Services
Healthcare Providers and Healthcare Facilities
Vehicle Gas, Repair & Maintenance Facilities
Agricultural services (including plant and food cultivation, farming, and raising livestock
Banks and Financial Institutions
Professional services (including attorneys, accountants, engineers, title companies, insurance agents and other licensed professionals)
Office Buildings where people work in individual enclosed spaces in groups of 10 or less
News media (newspapers, television, radio and other media services)
Day Care Facilities
Non-profit Providers of Essential Services
Residential Buildings (including hotels and motels)
Essential government services and facilities
Manufacturing, Distribution and Logistic Facilities
Laundromats and Dry Cleaners
Call Centers
Transit Facilities (airports, bus stops, bus stations)
Funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries and funeral service provided social distancing of 6 feet is maintained
Building Supply and Home Improvement Stores
Critical Infrastructure Business (described by the Cyber & Infrastructure Security Agency)
Religious Institutions/Churches/Places of Worship (perform those functions necessary for the production of remote delivery of religious services or necessary to support online, telephone, email and other services but are otherwise closed to the public)

However, people are highly encouraged to only bring those individuals necessary to conduct the activity. Please keep all non-essential additional family members especially children (if properly supervised) and elderly individuals at home;

Retail established not listed above as an “Essential Business or Service” and not listed “Specific Closure” may remain open provided the following conditions are followed and adhered to:

Federal and CDC guidelines are followed, including affirmative steps to ensure that social distancing of 6 feet is maintained between all customers and employees, including for customers waiting to enter the premises of a retail store
There are never more than ten (10) people inclusive of employees in the place of business
The retail establishment takes extra, verifiable measures, to sanitize and disinfect common surfaces such as counter tops, carts, faucets, doorknobs, etc.
Employees and customers maintain enhanced hygiene practices
Complete and submit to the City a “Low Risk Business Safe Work Plan” form requesting to be classified as a “Low Risk Business.”

The “Low Risk Business Safe Work Plan” form is available to any business that wishes to remain open and is not classified as “Essential Business or Service.” The Form includes information such as: confirmation that they meet the criteria listed above; detailing how the business will sanitize and disinfect common areas; and detailing how the business will enforce the federal and CDC guidelines including ensuring that social distancing of 6 feet is maintained between all customers and employees. The form is available at http://www.plainviewtx.org/COVID-19. For more information regarding the Low Risk Business Safe Work Plan form, please contact Jack McCasland with the Plainview-Hale County Health Department at 293-1359.

Common Questions regarding Specific Services

Churches & Places of Worship – open to staff and available to perform functions necessary to support online, telephone, email and other services, including production of services and related items
Landscape Services & Landscape Supply – open, social distancing no gatherings greater than 10
Construction Trades – open, social distancing and no gatherings greater than 10
Recovery Support Groups – open, social distancing and no gatherings greater than 10
Janitorial Services – open, social distancing and no gatherings greater than 10
Outdoor Entertainment & Recreation – closed under the current Declaration
Golf Courses – club house, restaurant and related areas closed: golf course is open as long as individuals either walk the course or ride in a golf cart without any riding companions and so long as patrons follow federal and CDC guidelines including ensuring that social distancing is maintained.
Computer Support Services – open to provide support services, retail is closed to customers and available through curb-side, pickup, delivery, etc.
Auto Sales – open for on-line and related transactions with pickup. Service, parts & related open

“If everyone does their part, the measures should work to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities on the South Plains,” says Mayor Wendell Dunlap. “We appreciate the County’s efforts to work together and ask citizens to join us in the fight to stop the spread of this disease.”

“This Order not only works to protect the citizens in Hale County but citizens across the South Plains,” says Judge David Mull. “We know that this is not an easy situation but with everyone working together, we will mitigate COVID-19.”

Failure to adhere to the order can result in fines up to $1000 and/or up to 180 days in jail. Travel permits are not required in the City of Plainview and no curfew is currently enacted except the normal curfew for juveniles under 17. As always, wash your hands, practice social distancing and contact your physician if you are experiencing symptoms

(This is a news release from the City of Plainview)