Supplemental Mayor's Local Disaster for Public Health Emergency Order No. 2 - 04/03/2020SUPPLEMENTAL MAYOR'S LOCAL DISASTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY ORDER NO.2
SUPPLEMENTAL ORDER OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PARIS,
TEXAS PROVIDING ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH
RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY TO WIT: USE OF FACIAL COVERINGS AND POLICIES
FOR ESSENTIAL RETAIL SERVICES PROVIDERS TO MAINTAIN
SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES.
WHEREAS, beginning in December, 2019, a novel coronavirus, now
designated SARS-CoV2 which causes the disease COVID-19, has spread
through the world and has now been declared a global pandemic by the World
Health Organization; and
WHEREAS, on March 5, 2020, the World Health Organization Director
General urged aggressive preparedness and activation of emergency plans to
aggressively change the trajectory of this epidemic; and
WHEREAS, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is closely
monitoring the growing number of COVID-19 cases that have spread into the
United States; and
WHEREAS, 7,038 cases of COVID-19 and 97 deaths from COVID-19 have
been reported in the United States according to the CDC as of 4:00 P.M. on
March 18,2020; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, Texas Governor Greg Abbott reported a
total of 39 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the State of Texas and as of March
18, 2020 the total confirmed cases in the State of Texas is 83; and
WHEREAS, by Thursday, April 2, 2020, the number of reported cases in
the State of Texas had risen to 4,669; and
WHEREAS, the first confirmed case in Lamar County, Texas was
announced on March 19, 2020, and WHEREAS, there have since been four
additional confirmed cases in the county; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 virus spreads between people who are in
close contact with one another through respiratory droplets produced when an
infected person coughs or sneezes, and droplets can also be generated by
talking, laughing, or exhaling; and
WHEREAS, the CDC has stated that people are the most contagious
before they start showing symptoms of COVID-19, and individuals can be
infected with the virus and be contagious even when they have not symptoms;
and
WHEREAS, Dr. Tom Ingelsby, Director of Johns Hopkins Center for
Health Security, has determined that face coverings should be required because
COVID-19 can spread when asymptomatic people go out in public and that
requiring individuals to wear face masks or coverings will reduce transmission
of the virus; and
WHEREAS, the United States Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams,
acknowledges that there is a significant amount of asymptomatic spread and
recommends that individuals use face coverings and attempt not to touch their
faces to reduce the spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has further recommended that individuals
wear facial coverings to prevent individuals from infecting others; and
WHEREAS, on March 31, 2020, Gov. Greg Abbott issued Executive Order
GA -14, in which he stated that every person in the State of Texas shall, except
where necessary to provide or obtain or provide essential services, minimize
social gatherings and minimize in-person contact with people who are not in
the same household as recommended by the President and the CDC;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS,
PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY TEXAS GOVERNMENT
CODE CHAPTER 418, THE CITY'S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN, AND
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, HEREBY FIND AND ISSUE THE
FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE FURTHERANCE OF PUBLIC
HEALTH AND TO STEM THE TIDE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC:
Section 1. That the findings and recitations set out in the preamble to
this Order are found to be true and are hereby adopted by the Mayor and made
a part hereof for all purposes.
Section 2. Recommendations Regarding Face ov rin s. All
persons over the age of five (5) are strongly encouraged to wear some form of
covering over their noses and mouths, such a homemade mask, scarf, bandana,
or handkerchief, when: entering or inside any building open to the public; when
using public transportation, taxis, or ride shares; or when pumping gas. This
recommendation does not extend to people that are: engaging in a permissible
outside physical activity; that are riding in a personal vehicle; that are alone in
a separate single space; that are with their own household members; when
doing so poses a greater health, safety or security risk; or for consumption
purposes.
Section 3. R c mmendations for Essential Retail Services
Providers Regarding Social Distancin . Essential retail service providers
allowed by GA -14 to continue operations, including but not limited to grocery
stores, general retail stores, and home improvement stores, are strongly
encouraged to implement policies to limit the numbers of people in their stores
at any one time so as to effectively observe the President's and the CDC's social
distancing recommendations. Said policies should be consistent with both the
social distancing guidelines and the individual circumstances of each business,
such as the square footage of its facilities and other relevant factors.
Section 4. Po tin . The City of Paris shall post this Supplemental Order
No. 2 on its website. In addition, the owner, manager, or operator of any facility
that is likely to be impacted by this Order is strongly encouraged to post a copy
of this order onsite.
ORDERED this 3rd day of April, 2020.
e. Cliffor D., Mayor
ATTEST:
CITY 6,"*
FA'
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM