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Stay Home - Work Safe order issued for Houston, Harris County
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Toggle Fullscreen 1.1em]This is what the 'stay home, work safe' order that Judge Lina Hidalgo has issued for Harris County means.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A Stay Home - Work Safe Order has been issued for Houston and Harris County residents to help fight the spread of COVID-19.
The order will go into effect at 11:59 p.m. and will last until April 3. It applies throughout Harris County, including unincorporated areas and all cities within the county.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said in a tweet that people should stay home except for essential needs. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner echoed what Hidalgo said.
The decision was announced Tuesday at a joint press conference with Hidalgo and Turner.
 Harris County Judge
✔@HarrisCoJudge
BREAKING: I've just issued a Stay Home-Work Safe Order for Harris County residents effective midnight tonight. Folks should stay home except for essential needs. This moment in history will define our future. History will say we prioritized human life. 
"I can say to you without reservation that @HarrisCoJudge and I are standing together on this order. This is a public health crisis," Turner wrote.
- Healthcare & Public Health
- Nuclear Reactors, Materials and Waste
Under the order, grocery stores will stay open, with Turner saying the food supply chain is sound.
WATCH: Houston Mayor Turner explains what people should do during the order
[size=1.084em]Not sure what you should do in a 'stay home' order? Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner explains
Restaurants can continue providing takeout and drive-thru service, but must maintain social distancing between customers as well.
In order to safely social distance, you must stay six feet away.
Day cares who provide care for employees of essential businesses can remain open.
Religious and worship services are to be streamed online only, but one-on-one counseling between leaders and parishioners is allowed in an effort to help with mental health.
SEE MORE: What does the Harris County and Houston Stay Home - Work Safe order mean for you?
The goal is to "flatten the curve" and to limit exposure and spread of the virus that has killed eight Texans and infected more than 340.
"My destiny is in your hands. Your destiny is in my hands. Where we go from here is dependent on how we recognize the crisis we are in," the mayor said.
Hidalgo said a fine or up to 180 days in jail will be enforced for violating the order.
Still, the Harris County Sheriff's Office said there is no desire to arrest people. Instead, the hope is that people will voluntarily comply.
However, citations are a possibility, with HCSO's Jason Spencer saying the enforcement focus, if any, will be on businesses open in violation of the order, not necessarily individuals.
After the press conference, Houston police chief Art Acevedo spoke.
"First of all, let's just make something clear. The city is not locked down," Acevedo said. "That couldn't be further from the truth."
"We're going to ask people when we think they're doing something that's in violation of this order, we're going to ask people to comply, and we believe that by using some compassion and common courtesy, we'll be able to be just fine," Acevedo said
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发表于 2020-3-24 10:37:45
