HomeMy WebLinkAbout032059 DEC - 03/18/2020 Second Amended Order Regarding Public and Private Gatherings
Supercedes prior Order
This declaration and order implementing emergency powers is issued pursuant to Texas Government
Code Chapter 418 (including, but not limited to Texas Government Code § 418.108 and authority to
control ingress, egress, movement, and premises' occupancy), the Mayoral Declaration of a Local
State of Disaster Due to a Public Health Emergency by the Mayor of the City of Corpus Christi, and
the Declaration of Disaster due to Public Health Emergency issued by the County Judge on March
13, 2020, which has been extended by action of their governing bodies. In accordance with said
Chapter and Declarations, the Mayor and County Judge hereby find and order as follows:
1. The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is easily transmitted, especially in group settings, and it is
essential that the spread of the virus be slowed to protect the ability of public and private health care
providers to handle an influx of patients and safeguard public health and safety. At the current time,
the shortage of available tests and rapid nationwide spread of COVID-19 in tested areas indicates
there is a strong likelihood of currently undetected community transmission of COVID-19 within the
City. Due to said transmission, the Governor of the State of Texas and President of the United States
declared states of disaster and emergency on March 13, 2020.
2. Because of the risk of the rapid spread of coronavirus, and the need to protect the most vulnerable
members of the community, this Declaration prohibits all indoor gatherings and outdoor gatherings
within an enclosed space of 50 persons or more anywhere in the City of Corpus Christi and in Nueces
County beginning immediately and continuing for 7 days, which is subject to extension pursuant to
requirements of state law. Accordingly, all persons are prohibited from organizing, managing,
furthering, and attending Mass Gatherings for the next 7 days, which is subject to extension
pursuant to requirements of state law.
3. For all other gatherings, it is strongly recommended that social distancing protocols established by
the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and found within the
"Implementation of Mitigation Strategies for Communities with Local COVID-19 Transmission" issued
by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") on or around March 11,
2020 (available online at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/downloads/community-mitiqation-
strategv.gdf), including canceling, rescheduling, or not attending events with more than 50 persons.
4. Definitions and further guidance:
a. For purposes of this Declaration, a "Mass Gathering" is any event or convening, subject to
the exceptions and clarifications below, that brings together or is likely to bring together 50 or
more persons at the same time in a single room or other single confined or enclosed space,
such as, by way of example and without limitation, an auditorium, theatre, stadium (indoor or
outdoor), arena or event center, meeting hall, conference center, large cafeteria, or any other
confined indoor or confined outdoor space.
b. A "Mass Gathering" includes events in confined outdoor spaces, which means an outdoor
space that (i) is enclosed by a fence, physical barrier, or other structure and (ii) where people
are present and they are within arm's length of one another for extended periods.
c. For purposes of clarity, a "Mass Gathering" does not include the following:
— gatherings of people in multiple, separate enclosed spaces in a single building,
so long as 50 people are not present in any single space as the same time;
— use of enclosed spaces where 50 or more people may be present at different
times during the day, so long as 50 or more people are not present in the space
at the same time;
L:\Legal\SHARED\Admin Protects\2020\Second Amended Order regarding Public and Private Gatherings-50 person limitdoca
032059 SCANNED
— public or private schools;
— spaces where 50 or more persons may be in transit or waiting for transit such
as bus stops;
office space, hotels, or residential buildings;
— grocery stores, shopping malls, outdoor markets, restaurants, or other retail
establishments where large numbers of people are present but it is unusual for
them to be within arm's length of one another for extended periods;
— hospitals, medical facilities and shelters;
— jails and detention centers; and
— Corpus Christi International Airport.
In all such settings, it is recommended that the public follow social distancing
recommendations and harm reduction measures (such as hand sanitizer and tissues should
be provided when possible).
5. It is hereby recommended that persons should avoid gatherings in excess of 50 persons.
Organizations should cancel gatherings in excess of 50 persons. Persons in high-risk populations (ie.
Elderly, etc.) should avoid gatherings in excess of 10 persons. Organizations that serve primarily
high-risk persons should cancel gatherings in excess of 10 persons. Organizations that serve high-
risk populations (defined below) should follow CDC guidance for social distancing. "High-Risk
Populations" include people who are:
• 60 years old and older;
• People with certain health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes,
kidney disease and weakened immune systems;
• People who are pregnant or were pregnant in the last two weeks.
• People experiencing homelessness.
6. The Local Health Authority and Director of the Health District may update restrictions set out in this
document as necessary to respond to the evolving circumstances of this outbreak during the duration
of the Mayor's Declaration of Public Health Emergency and any extension by the Corpus Christi City
Council or, with respect to Nueces County, the Commissioners Court of Nueces County.
7. A violation of this order is a violation of the emergency management plans of the City and County.
A person who violates any provision of this order may be punishable by a fine of up to $500 per
violation and separate day of violation, imprisonment of up to 180 days per violation and separate
day of violation, and additional amounts as authorized by law.
ORDEREDw.40 .
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J.- cComb, Mayor Barbara Canales, County Judge
•T: ATTEST: �-.
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Rebecca Huerta, City Secretary Karan Sands, County Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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Miles K. Risley, City Attorney Laura Garza Jimenez, CQou y Attorr ,2r
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