Hidalgo County Judge signs shelter at home order

EDINBURG, Texas (KVEO) — Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez has signed a new county order that orders residents to shelter at home.

The order also includes a curfew, essential travel limitations, and a requirement for facial coverings while outdoors.

The order will go into effect Wednesday July 22 at 12:01 a.m. and will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. on August 5.

The order includes the following directives:

1. All individuals currently living within Hidalgo County, Texas are ORDERED to SHELTER-AT-HOME in their residence. It is highly encouraged and recommended that all commercial businesses operating within Hidalgo County, except essential covered businesses should cease all activities at facilities that may not be provided by curbside, drive-through, or take-out services.

2. There will be a curfew for all persons aged eighteen (18) and over from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The only exceptions are for a medical emergency, to provide covered essential services, or any other purpose permitted under this Order.

3. To the greatest extent possible, all travel during the SHELTER-AT-HOME and CURFEW within the jurisdiction of Hidalgo to County should be limited to obtaining or performing essential covered services. Travel should be limited to no more than two (2) persons per vehicle for persons obtaining essential services, and four (4) persons per vehicles.

4. Every person in the County of Hidalgo shall wear a face covering over the nose and mouth when inside a commercial entity or other building or space open to the public, or when in an outdoor public space; wherever it is not feasible to maintain six feet (6) of physical distancing from another person not in the same household.

5. Any outdoor gathering of ten (10) or more people is prohibited unless the Mayor of the City in which the gathering is held, or the Hidalgo County Judge in the case of a gathering in an unincorporated area, approves of the gathering. Outdoor areas or outdoor venues shall operate at no more than fifty percent (50%) as underlined in the order.

“I am asking for all of us to come together and fight this battle as one,” said Judge Cortez. “You are all part of the solution.”

You can read the full order below.

A fine of up to $250 can be issued for not wearing facial coverings after the first violation.