SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff issued tighter restrictions in an a new emergency order on Monday in an attempt to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. The city’s order was extended until April 30 after a city council meeting held on April 2.
The new “Stay Home, Work Safe” orders (embedded below) are the most restrictive one put out by the city and county since the pandemic first began. They direct residents to shelter at home with the exception of crucial errands and job duties.
These are the businesses that are/are not exempt in San Antonio’s ‘Stay Home, Work Safe’ orders
Restaurants will stay open for delivery and curbside orders, and grocery stores, pharmacies and other essential businesses will remain open.
As April 3, there were 254 COVID-19 cases reported in Bexar County and nine deaths. Community spread surpassed flight-related cases and one third of the patients are under 40, according to the data provided by Metro Health.
Here’s what the emergency orders do:
- The order directs residents to stay home and only leave their residences for “exempted activities.”
- “Exempted activities” include health and safety actions, like buying groceries, medicine, food or any other “necessary services or supplies." Residents are also allowed to leave home for outdoor activity, like walking, biking or hiking as long as they stay six feet away from other people. Lastly, residents can leave for work if they work at an “exempted business.” Residents can also donate blood, which has been deemed as an essential function.
- “Exempted businesses” include health care services, government functions, education and research facilities, infrastructure and construction, transportation, IT services, food, household staples and retail, services to economically disadvantaged populations, and “necessary” services, like laundromats and dry cleaners. Other examples include trash and recycling collection, mail and shipping services, building maintenance, plumbers, electricians, exterminators and car dealerships. News media, financial institutions, childcare services and funeral homes are also exempted. Nirenberg said businesses that are not explicitly listed in the order must close as long as the order is in effect.
- Worship services can only be provided through video or other remote measures.
- Eviction prohibition remains in effect as long as the declaration is still active.
Read the executive orders below:
COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new virus, stands for coronavirus disease 2019. The disease first appeared in late 2019 in Wuhan, China, but spread around the world in early 2020, causing the World Health Organization to declare a pandemic in March.
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