Coronavirus Archives - Page 2 of 3

During a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Governor Greg Abbott issued an updated Executive Order that gave Texans new COVID-19 guidelines.

The order says that Texans shall minimize social gatherings and in-person contact until April 30 except when to provide or obtain essential services. It also stated that “Essential services shall consist of everything listed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in its Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce,” as well as religious services conducted in churches, congregations, and houses of worship.

The Governor additionally ordered, “In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, schools shall remain temporarily closed to in-person classroom attendance and shall not recommence before May 4, 2020.”

The updated order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. April 2, 2020. You can read it in its entirety by clicking here.

Governor Abbott’s update came one day after President Trump extended federal social distancing guidelines until the end of April.

To help you stay informed as this situation evolves, the City of Southlake has created an information page, www.ProtectSouthlake.com, that provides a centralized place for Southlake news and resources. It also contains links to the COVID-19 pages located on county, state, and federal sites.

For mobile phone text message updates from the City, type PROTECTSLK to 888-777. Be sure to follow Mayor Hill’s Facebook page and the City’s Facebook page for the latest City news.

The impact of the COVID-19 situation is not only being felt locally in Southlake, but on a state and national level. Governments and organizations are issuing updates daily to help individuals and organizations who have been impacted.

Below is a list of resources for you and your business:

City of Southlake Business Resources: The City has put together a webpage with information for Southlake small businesses and updates on the COVID-19 response from a business perspective. The webpage also includes links to listing of local restaurants with updates to their curbside and delivery services, as well as a listing of grocery stores and pharmacies with operation hours and special services.
Tarrant County Community Resources: Tarrant County has listed health and community resources on its COVID-19 information page.
Texas Workforce Commission: TWC is providing updates on unemployment benefits and information for employers, jobseekers and child care on its website. You can also sign up for updates.
IRS Tax Relief: The deadline to file your taxes has been extended to July 15. For information on the stimulus payment check sent to households and other IRS resources, click here.
U.S. Department of Labor Unemployment Resources and Workplace Safety Guidelines: The DOL website provides resources for workers and employers for the COVID-19 situation.

To help our community find the latest news and resources on the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, the City has created an information page on its website at www.ProtectSouthlake.com. Bookmark this page for easy, quick access to the information you need and stay on top of how the City is responding.

There are a lot of questions about what stay-at-home means and what you’re allowed and not allowed to do until the order expires April 7. To help, we created a list of dos and don’ts.

DO Walk Your Dog – Outside walks and jogs are permitted. Remember to follow social distancing requirements and stay six feet apart from others.

DON’T Go to the Playground – While City parks are open, playgrounds, basketball courts and other amenities are closed to the public. Here’s a breakdown of what’s open and what’s not. You can take a stroll in the park, as long as it’s not a social gathering or grouping outside of your household and you are following social distancing requirements.

DO Order Takeout or Delivery from a Southlake Restaurant – Restaurants can serve takeout and delivery. So, pick out a restaurant from this list and place your order!

DON’T Go To Work If You’re Not Considered an Essential Service or Business – Have questions? Take a look at our summary of the order. Telecommute when possible.

DO a Scavenger Hunt – While you’re exercising outdoors, play our scavenger hunt! Remember to follow the social distancing requirements.

DON’T Organize a Social Outing – Instead of meeting your friends in-person, organize a video chat.

DO Grocery Shop – Grocery stores are open, so pick up some necessities or order online and use the store’s pick up or delivery services.

DON’T Panic Buy – When shopping, buy what you need. There’s no need to hoard.

DO Have Fun – It's a stressful time for all of us. Make the most of it with at-home activities. Here’s a list!

Have more questions? Watch Deputy Mayor Pro Tem John Huffman and Assistant City Manager Alison Ortowski give a breakdown in this video or review our summary of the order here.

View the full Tarrant County order here.

The City is aware of a positive COVID-19 test for a City of Southlake employee.

Tarrant County is following established procedures to trace any contact this employee might have had with others. The City is aware that this field employee had no contact with the public at work. They self-isolated early last week. In the interest of the employee’s privacy, this is the only publicly releasable information.

If you have COVID-19 questions, contact the Tarrant County COVID-19 hotline at (817) 248-6299. For the Tarrant County case status by city updates, click here. If you live in Denton County, please contact the Denton County Public Health Department. Their hotline number is (940) 349-2585 for community members seeking additional information. The call center is open weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation is frequently changing. The City of Southlake is committed to working with our residents and businesses as this unprecedented situation unfolds. We continue to encourage everyone to make the best possible decisions by following expert guidance and advice, reducing the risk of being infected or infecting others, and staying up-to-date about the latest information.

We continue to encourage everyone to make the best possible decisions by following expert guidance and advice, reducing the risk of being infected or infecting others, and staying up-to-date about the latest information.

For mobile phone text message updates from the City, type PROTECTSLK to 888-777. Be sure to follow Mayor Hill’s Facebook page and the City’s Facebook page for the latest City news and to stay connected with us and each other.

A Stay At Home order has been issued for Tarrant County residents by Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, in effect from 11:59 p.m. today, March 24, until April 7, 2020.

At a Tuesday (3/24) press conference, Judge Whitley announced that he would issue an executive order that requires Tarrant County residents to stay home and leave only for essential travel, to work in essential businesses, and for essential activities. To read the full text of the order click here.

“We are working closely with state and local officials to help stop the spread of the Coronavirus,” said Mayor Laura Hill. “The Governor’s updated executive order and Tarrant County’s updated orders are the tools we need to help protect the public’s health,” she added.

What This Means for Southlake

Residents are to stay at their place of residence and practice social distancing unless they are leaving for essential activities, or working at essential businesses, essential governmental services, essential critical infrastructure, or to perform minimum basic operations.
Essential Activities are defined on page three of the order and include activities necessary to get supplies or food for your families or household.
All businesses except essential businesses, no public occupancy is allowed. Minimum basic operations are permitted with proper social distancing. Pages seven and eight of the order defines the essential businesses.
Essential businesses are to conduct business with proper social distancing and to provide screening precautions to protect employees.
Public and private gatherings outside a single household are prohibited.
Food establishments, including those at schools and hotels, are limited to drive-in, drive-through, take out, and delivery with proper social distancing. No in-house dining is allowed.
Houses of worship are to remain closed for in-person services. Staff members are allowed in their buildings to produce audio/video services, but social distancing is required.
Non-essential visitors are prohibited from going to nursing homes, retirement communities, and long-term care facilities unless they are providing critical assistance or for end-of-life visitation.
Elective medical, surgical, and dental procedures are prohibited.

Mayor Laura Hill’s First Amended Declaration of Local Disaster and Public Health Emergency, signed on March 23, states the City will adopt all rules, regulations, and limitations issued by Tarrant County, Denton County, and the State of Texas contained in their executive orders, or disaster declarations. The Council also voted on March 23 to extend the Declaration “based on [the] weekly review conducted by Mayor Hill and City Manager Shana Yelverton” and “until terminated by order of the City Council.”

“The City’s Office of Emergency Management has prepared for this possibility, and now that it’s reality, the City will move forward on supporting the order,” said Assistant City Manager Alison Ortowski.

Stay informed. www.ProtectSouthlake.com is the City’s information page that provides a centralized place for the City’s COVID-19 latest news and resources. It also contains links to county, state, and federal sites. You can also text PROTECTSLK to 888-777 for text message updates and be sure to follow the City’s social media to stay connected with us and with each other.

As a result, of the special March 23, 2020, virtual meeting, the Southlake City Council voted to extend Mayor Laura Hill’s First Amended Declaration of Local Disaster and Public Health Emergency.

The initial March 17, 2020, Declaration was for a period of seven days, and the Mayor signed a First Amended Declaration on March 23, 2020. The Council’s vote on Resolution 20-015 allows for the extension of the First Amended Declaration “based on [the] weekly review conducted by Mayor Hill and City Manager Shana Yelverton” and “until terminated by order of the City Council.”

“Local declarations are necessary for cities to qualify for disaster recovery resources from state and federal governments,” said Assistant City Manager Alison Ortowski. “It also helps the City do everything it can to limit public exposure to disease and promote public health without overwhelming hospitals and other medical care facilities.”

The Declaration also states that the City will adopt all rules, regulations, and limitations issued by Tarrant County, Denton County, and the State of Texas contained in their executive orders, or disaster declarations.

The Council also voted to postpone the May 2, 2020, General and City Bond Elections to November 3, 2020, or to an earlier option as specified by Governor Greg Abbott.

For mobile phone text message updates from the City, type PROTECTSLK to 888-777. Be sure to follow Mayor Hill’s Facebook page and the City’s social media for the latest City news and to stay connected with us and each other.

The City has been made aware by Tarrant County Public Health that a fourth Southlake resident has tested positive for COVID-19.

In the interest of the resident’s privacy, this is the only publicly releasable information. If you have questions, contact the Tarrant County COVID-19 hotline at (817) 248-6299. For the Tarrant County case status by city updates, click here.

City leadership is following the guidance of state and local agencies to support the protection of public health in Southlake and the DFW area. The COVID-19 situation is frequently changing, and the City of Southlake is committed to working with our residents and businesses to work through this unprecedented situation.

To help you to stay informed as this situation evolves, the City of Southlake has created a new information page, www.ProtectSouthlake.com, that provides a centralized place for Southlake news and resources. It also contains links to the COVID-19 pages located on county, state, and federal sites.

Tarrant County has updated its Declaration of Local Disaster Due to Public Health Emergency order. The order’s changes are effective today, March 21, 2020, at 6:00 p.m.

According to Tarrant County, here is a high-level overview of the new changes:

Will close in-person worship services but will allow worship support staff to facilitate online services.
The new rules will also close malls and other non-essential retail establishments such as barbershops, hair salons, nail salons as well as spas and massage parlors.
Essential services such as grocery stores, pharmacies and other establishments that sell household goods will remain open.
In-house dining at restaurants remains closed but drive-in, drive-through, takeout, and delivery are still permitted.

The updated Declaration can be read in its entirety here.

Tarrant County Public Health is now staffing its COVID-19 hotline 24/7. The number is (817) 248-6299.

Southlake businesses are subject to this order. If you have questions about how this affects your business or organization, please call (817) 748-8400. The City also has a list of online services. Visit this webpage for more information: www.CityofSouthlake.com/EServices.

To help you continue to stay informed as this situation evolves, the City has created a new information page on its website that provides a centralized place to find the latest news and resources for the Southlake community. It also contains links to county, state, and federal sites. For quick, easy access to the information you need, bookmark www.ProtectSouthlake.com.

You can also text PROTECTSLK to 888-777 for text message updates and be sure to follow the City’s social media to not only get the latest news but to stay connected with us and each other.

The Southlake City Council will hold a special virtual meeting on March 23, 2020, starting at 5:30 pm.

Meeting Agenda
The short meeting agenda will consist of the following items:

Executive Session
Discuss and consider adopting Resolution No. 20-015, extending the Mayor’s First Amended Declaration of Disaster.
Consider adopting Resolution 20-016 ordering postponement of May 2, 2020, General Election to November 3, 2020.
Consider adopting Resolution 20-017 ordering postponement of May 2, 2020, City Bond Election to November 3, 2020.

The special meeting is being held in compliance with Governor Greg Abbott’s action that allows telephonic or videoconference meetings of governmental bodies that are accessible to the public, yet reduce in-person interaction and encourage social distancing. The consideration to delay Southlake’s General and Bond Elections is based on Governor Abbott’s proclamation allowing political subdivisions to move their general and special elections to the next uniform election date, November 3, 2020.

To review the meeting agenda, please visit https://www.cityofsouthlake.com/AgendaCenter.

Watch the Meeting
If you just want to watch online, visit www.CityofSouthlake.com/VOD, and scroll down to the live feed. Once concluded, it will post to the City’s on-demand video player no later than Monday morning (3/24).

Meeting Participation
For those who want to participate during the meeting, you must first register with the City starting 90 minutes (4:00 pm) before the 5:30 pm start time. Participation instructions will be sent to the email provided. Please note that at the time of registration participants will be held in a queue until the meeting starts. Please also allow for possible lag time at your location if connection speeds are slow.

The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation is frequently changing. The City of Southlake is committed to working with our residents and businesses as this unprecedented situation unfolds. For the latest City news and information, visit www.ProtectSouthlake.com, Mayor Laura Hill’s Facebook page, and the City’s Facebook pages

Following Mayor Laura Hill’s issuance of a local Declaration of Disaster on March 17, 2020, the City of Southlake began operating at what’s known as a level two emergency activation.

The activation means the City’s Executive Leadership Team and selected support staff are actively managing the local situation on a daily basis to ensure protection of the public health and safety while also endeavoring to continue to provide essential services supported by useful, relevant information about the evolving circumstances. With the addition of Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Order and Public Health Disaster Declaration issued on March 19, 2020, the City will be making the following changes to city offices, programs and services.

All City Facilities Closed to Walk-In Public Access until the end of the Governor’s Order, 11:59 p.m. April 3.

Effective March 19, 2020, at 5PM, City facilities will be closed to walk-in public access. Certain City staff will continue working and are available via phone and email to assist customers. If you need to reach someone, and don’t have a direct line, please call the City’s main line at 817-748-8400. There are also several ways to access services remotely through the City’s website.

We have provided a link on our page at www.ProtectSouthlake.com to a centralized portal for online services and quick reference phone lists.

City Closures and Cancellations until the end of the Governor’s Order, 11:59 p.m. April 3:

All City Council, Board, and Commission meetings. Additionally, the City Council meeting on April 7^th has been canceled.
Southlake Playgrounds. Public parks will remain open at this time for outdoor use as long as the declaration orders on gathering limits to no more than 10 are followed and proper social distancing is maintained.
The Southlake Public Library
The Marq Southlake Legends Hall. Customers with planned events should call (817) 748-8900 to discuss details specific to their event.
The Marq Southlake Champions Club including classes and programming
Senior Activity Center and all related programming
All City of Southlake classes and programs
Cross Timbers Forest Preschool at Bob Jones Nature Center
Municipal Court dockets and Teen Court meetings and dockets
Southlake DPS Public Education classes

“The Southlake and Statewide Disaster Declarations are necessary steps in fighting the spread of COVID-19 in the Southlake Community,” said Mayor Laura Hill. “I am asking the community to unite behind these efforts so we can stop the spread and provide relief to the medical community.”

“The City will work with every resident and business in need of City services,” said Assistant City Manager Alison Ortowski. “Call us at (817) 748-8400 during regular business hours, we are happy to help.”

Stay Informed and Stay Connected

To help you continue to stay informed as this situation evolves, the City has created a new information page on its website that provides a centralized place to find the latest news and resources for the Southlake community. It also contains links to county, state and federal websites. For quick easy access to the information you need, bookmark www.ProtectSouthlake.com.

You can also text PROTECTSLK to 888777 for text message updates and be sure to follow the City’s social media to not only get the latest news but to stay connected with us and each other.

Please note, as the situation evolves, closures and cancellations are subject to change.