File photo
File photo
FORT WORTH – Violate any part of Tarrant County’s emergency coronavirus orders and you might spend six months in jail or have to pay a $1,000 fine.
“We are not looking to make money off this thing, we are looking to save lives,” Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Tarrant County commissioners voted to close non-essential businesses and impose those civil penalties during an emergency meeting held March 22. Whitley had issued an order to close those businesses a day earlier to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The penalties for individuals or businesses – a fine of up to $1,000 or jail time up to 180 days – went into effect immediately.
Non-essential businesses need to stay closed or risk the fine or jail time for a responsible party. Businesses that can remain open need to follow other rules, including no gatherings of more than 10 people. No seating is allowed in restaurants, which can only service takeout or delivery. Non-essential businesses that must stay closed include bars, houses of worship, theaters, malls, retail stores, massage parlors, hair and nail salons and tattoo shops. Non-essential businesses must stay closed until April 5 – unless the closure order gets extended.
If you test positive for the coronavirus, you must stay home.
Individual cities have the responsibility of enforcing the emergency orders. The fines went into effect immediately Sunday night.
What can stay open during the pandemic are businesses labeled as “critical infrastructure” by the Department of Homeland Security. Grocery stores, health care services and pharmacies can stay open. Retail stores can continue online sales if employees keep at least 6 feet apart.
“This in no way, shape or form would close down essential obligations in the county,” Whitley told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Critical workers called essential to the country’s infrastructure include workers in medical and health care, telecommunications, defense, transportation, logistics, information technology systems, telecommunications, agriculture, energy, water and wastewater, public works and law enforcement.
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