Several outlying North Texas counties are implementing new stay-at-home orders in response to COVID-19, while others are simply enforcing existing restrictions.
Gov. Greg Abbott has issued statewide restrictions that many of these counties are following, but other outlying counties are implementing different measures to prevent the spread of the virus, according to WFAA.
In Johnson County, for example, residents are under a type of stay-at-home order and a local state of disaster was declared by the county. This declaration allows commissioners to close nonessential businesses and make special exceptions to what is considered essential, WFAA-TV reported. Pawn shops are one type of business commissioners have deemed as essential.
“We have folks who may need to pawn something to have money to buy groceries or other important items," Johnson County Judge Roger Harmon told WFAA.
Harmon also told WFAA the county had to order tattoo and piercing parlors to shut down.
“People from Fort Worth were coming down to get tattoos,” Harmon told WFAA. “We noticed it and shut it down.”
Currently, Johnson County has few COVID-19 cases, but local officials continue to monitor the virus' growth in neighboring counties, WFAA reported.
“Right now, Johnson County is in good shape,” Harmon told WFAA. “We’re purposely trying to keep that curve flattened. We don’t want to overload our hospitals. That stays in my mind all the time.”
As of April 10, Texas reported 11,671 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 226 deaths. Johnson County has 27 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Much like Johnson County, Parker County is also under a local disaster declaration, WFAA reported. Parker County has 11 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and isn't implementing many guidelines for residents to follow.
The only restriction the county is enforcing is social distancing. According to WFAA, gatherings must be kept under 10 people.
Ellis County has also implemented an amended disaster declaration, but Nathaniel Pecina, Ellis County spokesman, told WFAA county officials are "still in the process of implementing the order." With 58 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the county is also under a stay-at-home order.
Similarly, Rockwall County is also under a stay-at-home order and County Judge David Sweet told WFAA that residents are doing a great job at social distancing and staying home. Sixteen COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Rockwall County.
Wise and Palo Pinto counties have also issued disaster declarations, but neither has a stay-at-home order in place, WFAA reported. Both counties have four confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.
Palo Pinto County Judge Shane Long amended his disaster declaration and Wise County judge J.D. Clark limited social gatherings to no more than 10 people, according to WFAA.
According to WFAA, other counties in North Texas that have a type of stay-at-home order in place are Collin, Dallas, Denton, Erath, Hood, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro and Tarrant counties.
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