Fort Worth Adopts COVID-19 Disaster Declaration to Align with Governor’s Orders

Phase I of the governor’s Open Texas Plan begins Friday, May 1.

• Essential businesses and services, as defined by CISA 3.0, or a subsequent version, will remain open but must enforce social distancing.
• Services that are allowed to reopen to the public under specific health and safety conditions in Phase I include (Health and safety checklists for businesses, employees and customers are available at gov.texas.gov/opentexas):
  • Certain restaurants, theaters, retail services and malls with no more than 25% occupancy
  • Licensed health care professionals, such as doctors and dentists
  • Services provided by an individual working alone in an office
• Bars, gyms, public swimming pools, interactive amusement venues such as bowling alleys and video arcades, massage establishments, tattoo studios, piercing studios, or cosmetology salons are not reopening under Phase I.
• Religious services, regardless of religion, should be conducted in accordance with the Revised Guidelines for Houses of Worship During the COVID-19 Crisis, as promulgated by the attorney general and governor issued April 21, 2020, as may be amended. However, based on substantial community spread of the virus, it is strongly recommended that religious services continue to be provided remotely, including outdoor drive-up services where individuals remain in their vehicles.
• Nursing homes, retirement, and long-term care facilities are to prohibit nonessential visitors from accessing their facilities unless to provide critical assistance or for end-of-life visitation.
• Any person, firm, corporation, agent or employee thereof who violates any of the provisions of this resolution commits an offense that is considered a class C misdemeanor and each day the violation continues shall be a separate offense punishable by a fine of not more than $500.

Residents should continue following all health precautions and sanitizing guidelines and recommendations:

• Continue to stay home as much as possible.
• Wash hands often and for 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Practice social distancing, putting 6 ft. distance between yourself and other people.
• Wear a cloth face covering in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue away.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Disinfect surfaces, buttons, handles, doorknobs and other places touched often.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.