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General Updates

UPDATE: (05/05/2020) The Governor’s Office has issued a guide for compliance with the Governor’s recent Executive Orders and his initiative to Open Texas, titled “The Governor’s Report to Open Texas.”This report contains the various safety guidelines as well as checklists for consumers, employees, and employers to follow during this phase of the COVID-19 crisis in Texas.

UPDATE: (05/05/2020) The Williamson County Fire Marshal has an Occupational Load Calculator to assist you with determining the occupational load, with various percentages, for a given space and use.This is for educational purposes only.Consult your local Building Official or Fire Marshal to determine your official occupant load.Contact the Texas Department of Emergency Management to verify compliance with any Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) related regulations or guidelines required by the Office of the Texas Governor.

 
Compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order GA-18 in Williamson County

The Williamson County Judge’s Stay Home Stay Safe Order expires at 11:59 AM, April 30, 2020. Williamson County’s Local State of Disaster declaration remains in effect.

Effective April 27, 2020, with some portions going into effect on May 1, 2020, Governor Abbott issued Executive Order GA-18, which supersedes Executive Order GA-16.

This text was updated 4/30/20 at 5:40 p.m.

 
Violating the Executive Order is a criminal offense punishable by a fine not to exceed $1000

The purpose of this page is to provide specific information about compliance with Executive Order GA-18 (“the Executive Order”) for businesses operating within Williamson County.The Executive Order provides rules for business operation based on the following classifications:

  • Essential Services: If a business is deemed to provide essential services, it may be open to the public but should comply with the minimum standard health protocols recommended by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) found on its webpage, work from home if possible, social distancing, and good hygiene, environmental cleanliness, and sanitation.
  • Re-Opened Services: Re-opened services consist of the following business types and may be operated under the following rules in addition to following the minimum standard health protocols recommended by DSHS:
    • Retail services through pick-up, delivery by mail, or delivery to the customer’s doorstep
    • Starting at 12:01 a.m., May 1, 2020:
      • In-store retail services for retail businesses (to a maximum of 25% of the business’s listed occupancy)
      • Dine-in restaurants with less than 51% of their gross receipts from the sale of alcohol (to a maximum of 25% of the business’s listed occupancy)
      • Movie theaters (to a maximum of 25% of the business’s listed occupancy of any individual theater for any screening)
      • Shopping malls (to a maximum of 25% of the total listed occupancy, but food courts, play areas, and interactive displays must remain closed)
      • Museums and libraries if permitted to open by the local government (to a maximum of 25% of the total listed occupancy, but interactive exhibits and play areas must remain closed)
      • Services provided by an individual working alone in an office
      • Golf course operations
      • Local government operations as determined by the local government
  • Prohibited Services: The following services may not be made available to the public:bars, gyms, public swimming pools, interactive amusement venues such as bowling alleys and video arcades, massage parlors, tattoo studios, piercing studios, and cosmetology salons.
  • Nursing Homes, State Supported Living Centers, Assisted Living Facilities, and Long-Term Care Facilities: People shall not visit these facilities unless to provide critical assistance, as determined through HHSC guidance. These facilities should follow infection control policies and practices set forth by HSSC.

Essential services consist of everything listed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in its document titled Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce (version 3.0 or any subsequent version), any essential services listed by the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) on its webpage, and religious services.Religious services should be conducted under the Guidance for Houses of Worship During the COVID-19 Crisis issued by the Attorney General and the Governor.The specific restrictions for Re-Opened Services do not apply to Essential Services.

The County Judge no longer makes essential vs. non-essential services determinations.Requests for determinations and additions to the essential services lists must be directed to TDEM at EssentialServices@tdem.texas.gov.0

Additionally, the Executive Order reiterates rules for essential daily activities conducted by citizens and the operation of public and private schools.People and businesses that are permitted to operate are required to follow the minimum health protocols recommended by DSHS, and should implement social distancing, work from home if possible, and practice good hygiene, environmental cleanliness, and sanitation; and follow the Guidelines from the President and the CDC.

Guidelines for Individuals

  • Every person in Texas shall minimize social gatherings and minimize in-person contact with people not in the same household
    • In accordance with DSHS guidance (see Protocol for Individuals)
      • Maintain 6 feet of separation
        • If not possible, rigorously practice face covering, hand hygiene, cough etiquette, cleanliness, and sanitation
      • Self-screen before going into a business for listed symptoms
      • Wash or disinfect hands upon entering a business and after any interaction with employees or others
      • Wear cloth face coverings when entering business or when within 6 feet of a non-household member; consider wearing a non-medical grade face mask.Individuals are encouraged to wear appropriate face coverings, but no jurisdiction can impose a civil or criminal penalty for failure to wear a face covering.
    • Persons over the age of 65 are strongly encouraged to:
      • Stay home as much as possible
      • Maintain appropriate distance from any member of household who has been out of residence in previous 14 days
      • If leaving home, implement social distancing and practice good hygiene, environmental cleanliness, and sanitation