Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Previous County Orders Issued by Judge Jenkins - Coronavirus Outbreak


Orders Issued in April 2020

April 23

Amended Order: Long-Term Care Facilities

This Order shall be in effect beginning at 11:59 p.m. on April 23, 2020 and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on May 15, 2020, or until it is either rescinded, superseded, or amended pursuant to applicable law.

The Order makes the following change:

  • Currently, LTCF that have confirmed cases of coronavirus cannot accept new patients unless certain conditions are met. The revised Order allows LTCFs to accept a new patient if that patient is being transferred from a facility closed by the State.
  • Revises social distancing guidelines.

Click here to read the full order.


April 23

Rules for Reopened Services

Click here to read the full rules.

Reglas para servicios reabiertos

Haga clic aquí para ver las reglas.


April 23

Amended Order: Safer at Home

Effective as of Noon on April 23, 2020, and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on May 15, 2020.

Summary of changes:

  • Extends the Order until May 15, 2020
  • Removes elective surgery language to be consistent with the Governor’s Order
  • Adds language on “Reopened Services” to be consistent with the Governor’s Order and includes visiting “reopened services” as an allowable activity under the relevant sections of our Order
    • The social distancing and hygiene requirements for Reopened Services were issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services (attached) and this Order incorporates the State’s requirements
  • Updates language on religious and worship services to be consistent with the Governor’s Order
  • Allows auto dealers showrooms to be open
  • Requires schools to be closed for the remainder of the 2019 – 2020 school year to be consistent with the Governor’s Order
  • Exempts CARE Act Payments from garnishment, except for garnishment for child support payments

Click here to read the full order.

Orden modificada: MÁS SEGURO EN CASA

En vigencia a partir de las 12 p.m. del 23 de abril de 2020 y continuar hasta las 11:59 p.m. en 15 de mayo de 2020.

Haga clic aquí para leer el pedido completo.


April 18

Amended Order: Long-Term Care Facilities

This Order shall be in effect beginning at 11:59 p.m. on April 18, 2020 and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2020, or until it is either rescinded, superseded, or amended pursuant to applicable law.

Updates:

  1. Language clarifying that the Order applied to Skilled Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities, and Nursing Homes
  2. Language clarifying that if a resident is transferred from a LTCF to a hospital to receive care, the resident can be transferred back to the LTCF
  3. Allows facilities to accept new admissions if the Facility goes 30 consecutive days without a resident or staffer testing positive for COVID-19
  4. Allows the Dallas County Health Authority to designate a COVID-19 LTCF to receive recovering COVID-19 patients from hospitals

Click here to view the full order.


April 18

Amended Order: Safer At Home

Effective as of 3:00 p.m. on April 18, 2020, and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2020.

Update:  

  1. The order is updated to mirror the cloth covering enforcement language from the Commission’s Court Order Regarding Craft Stores and Facial Covering. No substantive changes were made to the Order.

Click here to view the full order.


April 17

Amended Order

Effective as of 11:59 p.m. on April 17, 2020, and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2020.

The changes include:

  1. Allows stores that sell fabric to operate for the sole purpose of selling school supplies and fabric and other supplies needed to make cloth coverings and masks (page 6)
  2. Adds language stating that the failure to wear a cloth covering cannot result in any civil or criminal fines or penalties (page 8)

Click here to view the full order.


April 17

Judge Jenkins’ Statement on Reopening the Economy

“I believe we- local, state, and federal officials- can work together to protect public health and carefully open the economy. We must be fully committed to following the science so we minimize the risk of a second wave of COVID19 that could force us backwards. We must listen to our constituents including those voices too often ignored but critical to this response. This includes among others: voices for workplace safety and fair treatment, communities of color who are bearing a disproportionate share of the pain of this pandemic and small business entrepreneurs who create half the jobs in Texas..."

Click here to view the full statement.


April 17

Amended Order

Effective as of 11:59 p.m. on April 17, 2020, and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2020.

The changes include:

  1. Allows stores that sell fabric to operate for the sole purpose of selling school supplies and fabric and other supplies needed to make cloth coverings and masks (page 6)
  2. Adds language stating that the failure to wear a cloth covering cannot result in any civil or criminal fines or penalties (page 8)

Click here to view the full order.


April 17

Judge Jenkins’ Statement on Reopening the Economy

“I believe we- local, state, and federal officials- can work together to protect public health and carefully open the economy. We must be fully committed to following the science so we minimize the risk of a second wave of COVID19 that could force us backwards. We must listen to our constituents including those voices too often ignored but critical to this response. This includes among others: voices for workplace safety and fair treatment, communities of color who are bearing a disproportionate share of the pain of this pandemic and small business entrepreneurs who create half the jobs in Texas..."

Click here to view the full statement.


April 15

Cloth Face Coverings - Frequently Asked Questions

This document provides public health information on how members of the general public can safely use cloth face coverings when they need to leave their home for a short period of time to obtain essential goods or services. Members of the general public should use a clean face covering anytime they will be in contact with other people who are not household members in public or private spaces. It is important to note that face coverings are not a substitute for always practicing physical distancing and frequent handwashing.

Click here to view the full FAQ.

Preguntas frecuentes: Cubiertas faciales de tela

Este documento proporciona información de salud pública sobre cómo los miembros del público en general pueden usar de manera segura cubiertas de tela para la cara cuando necesitan salir de su hogar por un corto período de tiempo para obtener bienes o servicios esenciales. Los miembros del público en general deben usar una cubierta de tela cada vez que estén en contacto con otras personas que no son miembros del hogar en espacios públicos o privados. Es importante tener en cuenta que las cubiertas faciales no son un sustituto para practicar siempre el distanciamiento físico y el lavado frecuente de manos.

Haga clic aquí para leer las preguntas frecuentes completas.


April 15

Amended Order:  Summary of Changes (Covering of Nose and Mouth)
UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 418.108, DALLAS COUNTY JUDGE CLAY JENKINS ORDERS:

Effective as of 1:00 p.m. on April 16, 2020, and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2020:

Covering of Nose and Mouth: Because an infected person can transmit the COVID-19 virus to others before showing any symptoms, the covering of a person’s nose and mouth is necessary to help slow the spread of the virus. Effective at 11:59 p.m. on April 17, 2020, to the greatest extent possible all persons over the age of two (2) shall wear some form of covering over their nose and mouth, such as a homemade mask, scarf, bandana or handkerchief, when patronizing an Essential Business or using public transportation pursuant to the rules outlined in Exhibit G. Parents and Guardians of children under 10 shall be responsible for appropriately masking children pursuant to this Order. To the greatest extent possible, all non-medical employees who work at an Essential Businesses or perform services that are exempt under this Order must wear face coverings over their noses and mouths while performing their work. An owner or operator of an Essential Business may refuse admission or service to any individual who fails to wear face covering. Wearing a face covering is not a substitute for maintaining 6-feet social distancing and hand washing, as these remain important steps to slowing the spread of the virus.

Click here to read the full order.

EXPOSICIÓN G
Orientación para cubrir la nariz y la boca

Un porcentaje significativo de individuos con el virus COVID-19 carece de síntomas. Debido a que una persona infectada puede transmitir el virus a otros antes de mostrar cualquier síntoma, es necesario cubrir la nariz y la boca de una persona cuando visita un Negocio Esencial para ayudar a prevenir la propagación de COVID-19. Esto es consistente con los hallazgos de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedad y la Autoridad de Salud del Condado de Dallas.

Haga clic aquí para leer el pedido completo.


April 8

Amended Order
Updates:

  1. Places restrictions on short-term rentals
  2. Prohibits door-to-door solicitation

Click here to view the full order.


April 7

Amended Order: Regarding Long Term Care Facilities
UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 418.108, DALLAS COUNTY JUDGE CLAY JENKINS ORDERS:

  1. This Order shall be in effect beginning at 6:30 p.m. on April 7, 2020 and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2020, or until it is either rescinded, superseded, or amended pursuant to applicable law.

Click here to view the full order.


April 6

Amended Order: Summary of Changes (to date)

  1. Adds Rules for Financial Institutions and Realtors
    1. Establishes rules for financial institutions and realtors to follow when conducting business in Dallas County, including safety standards.
  2. Adds Rules for Common Carriers, Delivery Services, and Related Companies
    1. Establishes safety rules for common carriers, motor carriers, private carriers, shippers, delivery services, moving companies and contract carriers that load or unload cargo, supplies, equipment or goods at any point located in Dallas County.

Click here to view the full summary.


April 6

Amended Order
UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 418.108, DALLAS COUNTY JUDGE CLAY JENKINS ORDERS:

  1. Effective as of 11:59 p.m. on April 6, 2020, and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2020:
    1. All individuals currently living within Dallas County are ordered to shelter at their place of residence. For the purposes of this Order, residences include hotels, motels, shared rentals, and similar facilities. To the extent individuals are using shared or outdoor spaces, they must at all times as reasonably as possible maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any other person when they are outside their residence. All persons may leave their residences only for Essential Activities, or to provide or perform Essential Governmental Functions, or to operate Essential Businesses, all as defined in Section 2.
    2. All businesses operating within Dallas County, except Essential Businesses as defined in below in Section 2, are required to cease all activities at facilities located within the County except Minimum Basic Operations as defined in Section 2. For clarity, businesses may continue operations consisting exclusively of employees or contractors performing activities at their own residences (i.e. working from home). To the greatest extent possible, all Essential Businesses shall comply with the Social Distancing Rules attached, including maintaining six feet social distancing for both employees and the general public.
    3. Employees of Essential Businesses, whose physical presence at the workplace is not essential to operations, are directed to use telecommuting to the fullest extent possible.
    4. All public or private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit are prohibited, except as otherwise provided herein. Nothing in this Order prohibits the gathering of members of a household or living unit.
    5. All elective medical, surgical, and dental procedures are prohibited anywhere in Dallas County. Hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, dental offices, and other medical facilities are directed to identify procedures that are deemed "elective" by assessing which procedures can be postponed or cancelled based on patient risk considering the emergency need for redirection of resources to COVID-19 response.

Click here to read the full order.


April 3

Order: Continuance of Declaration of Local Disaster for Public Health Emergency

This Continuance of Declaration of Local Disaster for Public Health Emergency affirms the activation of the Dallas County Emergency Management Plan and extends the Declaration of Local Disaster until 11:49pm on May 20, 2020 unless rescinded by order of the Commissioners Court.

Click here to read the full order.


April 3

Amended Order: Safer At Home
UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 418.108, DALLAS COUNTY JUDGE CLAY JENKINS ORDERS:

  1. Effective as of 11:10 a.m. on April 3, 2020, and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2020:
    1. All individuals currently living within Dallas County are ordered to shelter at their place of residence. For the purposes of this Order, residences include hotels, motels, shared rentals, and similar facilities. To the extent individuals are using shared or outdoor spaces, they must at all times as reasonably as possible maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any other person when they are outside their residence. All persons may leave their residences only for Essential Activities, or to provide or perform Essential Governmental Functions, or to operate Essential Businesses, all as defined in Section 2.
    2. All businesses operating within Dallas County, except Essential Businesses as defined in below in Section 2, are required to cease all activities at facilities located within the County except Minimum Basic Operations as defined in Section 2. For clarity, businesses may continue operations consisting exclusively of employees or contractors performing activities at their own residences (i.e. working from home). To the greatest extent possible, all Essential Businesses shall comply with the Social Distancing Rules attached, including maintaining six feet social distancing for both employees and the general public.
    3. Employees of Essential Businesses, whose physical presence at the workplace is not essential to operations, are directed to use telecommuting to the fullest extent possible.
    4. All public or private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit are prohibited, except as otherwise provided herein. Nothing in this Order prohibits the gathering of members of a household or living unit.
    5. All elective medical, surgical, and dental procedures are prohibited anywhere in Dallas County. Hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, dental offices, and other medical facilities are directed to identify procedures that are deemed "elective" by assessing which procedures can be postponed or cancelled based on patient risk considering the emergency need for redirection of resources to COVID-19 response.

Click here to read the full order.

Orden Enmendada
BAJO LA AUTORIDAD DEL CÓDIGO DE GOBIERNO DE TEXAS SECCIÓN 418.108, JUEZ DEL CONDADO DE DALLAS CLAY JENKINS ORDENA:

  1. En vigencia a partir de las 11:59 p.m. del 3 de abril de 2020 y continuar hasta las 11:59 p.m. en 30 de abril de 2020:
    1. Todas las personas que viven actualmente en el condado de Dallas tienen la orden de refugiarse en su lugar de residencia. Para los propósitos de esta Orden, las residencias incluyen hoteles, moteles, alquileres compartidos e instalaciones similares. En la medida en que las personas utilicen espacios compartidos o al aire libre, deben mantener en todo momento lo más razonablemente posible distanciamiento social de al menos seis pies de cualquier otra persona cuando estén fuera de su residencia. Todas las personas pueden abandonar sus residencias solo para Actividades Esenciales, o para proporcionar o realizar Funciones Gubernamentales Esenciales, o para operar Negocios Esenciales, todo como se define en la Sección 2.
    2. Todos los negocios que operan dentro del Condado de Dallas, excepto los Negocios Esenciales como se define a continuación en la Sección 2, deben cesar todas las actividades en las instalaciones ubicadas dentro del Condado. Para mayor claridad, las empresas pueden continuar las operaciones que consisten exclusivamente en empleados o contratistas que realizan actividades en sus propias residencias (es decir, trabajan desde casa). En la mayor medida posible, todos los Negocio Esenciales deberán seguir las Recomendaciones de Distanciamiento Social adjuntas, incluido el mantenimiento de distancia social de seis pies para los empleados y el público en general.
    3. Los empleados de negocios esenciales, cuya presencia física en el lugar de trabajo no es esencial para las operaciones, deben utilizar el teletrabajo en la mayor medida posible.
    4. Se prohíben todas las reuniones públicas o privadas de cualquier número de personas que ocurran fuera de un solo hogar o unidad de vivienda, excepto que se estipule lo contrario en el presente. Nada en esta Orden prohíbe la reunión de miembros de un hogar o unidad de vivienda.
    5. Todos los procedimientos electivos médicos, quirúrgicos y dentales están prohibidos en cualquier parte del condado de Dallas. Los hospitales, los centros de cirugía ambulatoria, los consultorios dentales y otras instalaciones médicas deben identificar los procedimientos que se consideran "electivos" mediante la evaluación de qué procedimientos pueden posponerse o cancelarse basado en el riesgo del paciente, teniendo en cuenta la urgente necesidad de re direccionar los recursos a los esfuerzos de COVID-19.

Haga clic aquí para ver el pedido modificado.


April 2

Rules for Manufacturers and Distributors

This document provides guidance for persons and business associated with the building and construction industries and trades on the meaning and application of Order issued by Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins on April 02, 2020 (the “Order”).

Click here to read the full rules.

Reglas para fabricantes y distribuidores

Este documento proporciona orientación para personas y empresas asociadas con las industrias y comercios de fabricación y distribución sobre el significado y la aplicación de la Orden emitida por el juez del condado de Dallas Clay Jenkins el 2 de abril de 2020 (la "Orden").

Haga clic aquí para ver las reglas.


April 2

Amended Order: Summary of Changes (to date)

  1. Adds safety rules for manufacturers and distributors
  2. Caps late fees for rent at $15/month
  3. Requires employees of essential businesses to telecommute when possible
  4. Prohibits employers from requiring negative COVID test of physician note before recovered employee can go back to work
    1. This provision is to prevent placing an additional burden on healthcare systems
  5. Clarifies that limits on purchases of toilet paper and other essential items do not apply to Essential Businesses and Government Offices

Click here to view the full summary.


April 2

Amended Order
UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 418.108, DALLAS COUNTY JUDGE CLAY JENKINS ORDERS:

  1. Effective as of 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2020, and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on April 3, 2020:
    1. All individuals currently living within Dallas County are ordered to shelter at their place of residence. For the purposes of this Order, residences include hotels, motels, shared rentals, and similar facilities. To the extent individuals are using shared or outdoor spaces, they must at all times as reasonably as possible maintain social distancing of at least six feet from any other person when they are outside their residence. All persons may leave their residences only for Essential Activities, or to provide or perform Essential Governmental Functions, or to operate Essential Businesses, all as defined in Section 2.
    2. All businesses operating within Dallas County, except Essential Businesses as defined in below in Section 2, are required to cease all activities at facilities located within the County except Minimum Basic Operations as defined in Section 2. For clarity, businesses may continue operations consisting exclusively of employees or contractors performing activities at their own residences (i.e. working from home). To the greatest extent possible, all Essential Businesses shall comply with the Social Distancing Rules attached, including maintaining six feet social distancing for both employees and the general public.
    3. Employees of Essential Businesses, whose physical presence at the workplace is not essential to operations, are directed to use telecommuting to the fullest extent possible.
    4. All public or private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit are prohibited, except as otherwise provided herein. Nothing in this Order prohibits the gathering of members of a household or living unit.
    5. All elective medical, surgical, and dental procedures are prohibited anywhere in Dallas County. Hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, dental offices, and other medical facilities are directed to identify procedures that are deemed "elective" by assessing which procedures can be postponed or cancelled based on patient risk considering the emergency need for redirection of resources to COVID-19 response.

Click here to read the full order.


April 1

Amended Order - Regarding Long-Term Care Facilities
UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 418.108, DALLAS COUNTY JUDGE CLAY JENKINS ORDERS:

  1. This Order shall be in effect beginning at 2:00 p.m. on April 1, 2020 and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on April 3, 2020, or until it is either rescinded, superseded, or amended pursuant to applicable law.
  2. This Order applies to all Long-Term Care Facilities (“LTCFs”) in Dallas County, Texas.

Click here to read the full order.