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COVID-19

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update – March 23, 2020

Dear Friends,
Over the development of this pandemic we’ve been trying to keep up with the ever-changing news and to adjust to this ‘new normal.’ Like you, the Meyers have been working hard to stay positive, maintain a regular schedule, practice social distancing, support local businesses, and provide a calm environment for our kids at home.
I also want to assure you that our local and state leaders are working 24/7 to manage this crisis, protect our citizens and make sure our communities are prepared for what lies ahead. While we have had to make some very difficult decisions that are affecting jobs and businesses, please know that every decision is being made with the intention of saving lives and effectively reducing this threat as quickly as possible. We are in this together.
To that end, there has been a lot of activity – the list below represents most of what’s transpired over the past few days in regard to state and local activity:

Shelter in Place Order

As you probably saw, last night in a press conference, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins has issued a shelter-in-place order for Dallas County. This step was made in an effort to ‘flatten the curve’ and prevent a scenario where our hospitals are overwhelmed with cases of COVID-19. The new restrictions go into effect tonight, 3/23, and are in effect until midnight on 4/03 unless otherwise amended. Here is what the new order says about shelter-in-place.
  • All Dallas County residents are ordered to shelter in their place of residence except for essential activities.
  • All businesses operating in Dallas County, except Essential Businesses (see below) must cease all activities at facilities located in Dallas County beginning at midnight. Essential business is defined by the order to mean:
  • “Essential Healthcare Operations” like hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities, healthcare suppliers, pharmacies, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, blood banks, medical research, laboratory services, or any related and/or ancillary healthcare services, including home-based and residential based care for seniors, adults, or children, and veterinary care and all health and welfare services provided to animals.
  • “Essential Critical Infrastructure” like public works, construction, residential and commercial construction, airport operations, utilities, roads, highways and public transportation, waste collection and removal, internet and telecommunications systems, financial institutions, and essential manufacturing operations (provided they carry out the work in compliance with social distancing requirements of six feet, to the extent possible).
  • “Essential Retail” includes food service providers, grocery stores, liquor stores, warehouse stores, big-box stores, gas stations, convenience stores, businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods or services directly to residencies, restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food (but only for delivery or carry out), laundromats, dry cleaners, auto supply and repair, hardware stores and related facilities, and businesses that supply products needed for people to work from home. Second, businesses may continue operations consisting exclusively of employees or contractors performing activities at their own residences (i.e., working from home.) Restaurants are still permitted to provide take-out, drive through, and delivery services.
For more information on what is defined as an “Essential Business” please read the official order here or contact County Judge Clay Jenkins at clay.jenkins@dallascounty.org.
  • All public or private gatherings of any number occurring outside a single household are prohibited.
  • All elective medical, surgical, and dental procedures are prohibited in Dallas County.
You are still permitted to leave for essential activities including going to the grocery store or pharmacy, taking a walk outside while maintaining proper social distancing practices, and ordering take-out or delivery service from restaurants and bars.

Latest Statewide Updates and Restrictions

Business & Industry
  • Governor Abbott requested that businesses throughout TX be eligible to receive low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Admin. TX was approved and the process for applying opens today. Small businesses who are eligible can apply online.
  • TX has waived the 10-day investigation period for individuals applying for unemployment benefits in an effort to get those who lost their jobs to COVID-19 their benefits as quickly as possible. Those seeking benefits can apply online.
  • TABC is allowing alcohol industry members that have acquired a temporary permit for an event that has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus situation to apply for a refund of their permit application fees.
  • Governor Abbott has waived a regulation to allow restaurants to deliver alcoholic beverages with food purchases and allowed alcohol distributors to buy back excess inventory.
Healthcare
  • Governor Abbott has waived several regulations to help meet Texas’ growing need for nurses. Texas is allowing temporary permit extensions to practice for graduate nurses and graduate vocational nurses who have yet to take the licensing exam. We are also allowing students in their final year of nursing school to meet their clinical objectives by exceeding the 50% limit on simulated experiences and allowing nurses with inactive licenses or retired nurses to reactivate their licenses.
  • Having the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare providers is critical to the COVID-19 response. Yesterday, Governor Abbott announced the launch of the Supply Chain Strike Force. The Strike Force will be leading the effort to guide collaboration between the public and private sectors to ensure health care workers have the PPE supplies they need. Per the release, the team will also “work to ensure day-to-day resources (including food) are available for Texas’ medical personnel, first responders and those who have contracted COVID-19.”
  • The Governor signed an executive order suspending certain regulations to allow for increased occupancy of hospital rooms — meaning hospitals will be able to treat more than one patient per room, increasing their ability to care for the growing number of COVID-19 patients.
  • The waiver requested by the Texas Medical Board has been approved to allow telephone refills of a valid prescription for treatment of chronic pain by a physician with an established chronic pain patient.
  • TX has expanded telemedicine options for all Texans.
Other Actions
  • Provisions of the TX Election Code have been suspended to allow local governments to postpone their municipal elections from May to the November 3rd, 2020 election date. Gov. Abbott has also ordered that the primary runoff date be moved from May 26th to July 14, 2020.
  • The TX Supreme Court has issued a temporary suspension of residential evictions (exception if there is a threat of physical harm or criminal activity.)
  • Gov. Abbott has activated the TX National Guard to be on standby to help with relief efforts across the state.
  • Texas has received $36.9 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as part of the state’s initial allotment of funding from the first emergency coronavirus bill passed by Congress. These funds will be used to strengthen Texas’ community intervention efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and preserve critical healthcare, workforce, and infrastructure functions, while minimizing social and economic impact. In addition, these funds will be used to scale up Texas’ surveillance, lab testing, and reporting capabilities.

Education

  • Currently, all schools in TX are ordered to be closed until 4/03.
  • Gov. Abbott has waived the STAAR testing requirements for this school year. This was something I was strongly supportive of because it allows districts to focus on health & safety over a test.
  • Dallas ISD is continuing to offer no-cost meal services for students and families who are food insecure. The find the nearest location or learn how you can help, visit their website.
  • Several learning platforms are offering free services as students shift to online learning. A few examples are Scholastic, Brain Pop, and ABC Mouse.

COVID-19 Testing

The state of TX is working to expand the availability of testing. According to Texas Health and Human Services, it’s up to your doctor to decide if you should be tested for COVID-19. People who need help finding doctors can call 2-1-1 to find low- or no-cost providers in their area.
  • There is now a drive-thru testing facility in HD 108. As of noon today, they have updated the criteria to the following:
    • Shortness of breath
    • Cough
    • Must show a temperature of 99.6 or higher
The site operates daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the American Airlines Center, Parking Lot E, 2500 Victory Plaza.

Other Resources

Sincerely,
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