Mayor Nirenberg and Judge Wolff Issue Stay Home, Work Safe Orders Amid Coronavirus Crisis

March 23, 2020 - San Antonio

By Jade Esteban Estrada - Staff Writer, San Antonio Sentinel

Monday evening, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff issued separate but joint Stay Home, Work Safe Orders in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The order is effective beginning at 11:59 p.m. on March 24. If approved by San Antonio City Council at this Thursday’s meeting, the City order will last until 11:59 p.m. on April 9, or until it is either rescinded, superseded or amended.

“As you know, and as we expected, the number of positive cases is growing," said Nirenberg this evening at a press conference, which was attended by only a handful of reporters who were purposefully distanced from one another. "We need to take additional steps now to slow the spread [of COVID-19]. The actions I announced today can be summed up as short-term pain in exchange for long-term benefit."

He added, “If we do this right – and right away – we [will] suffer fewer consequences in the long term, such as loss of family, friends or neighbors who may be particularly vulnerable right now. If we do this right – and right away – we also position our community to emerge from this crisis more quickly [and] give our businesses and institutions an earlier opportunity to begin the recovery process. So, I’m asking every single one of us – every San Antonian, every Bexar County resident – to do our part to halt the spread of the virus. Stay home and work safe.”

Wolff pointed out that San Antonio is facing not only a public health challenge, but also an economic one. 

“We must work together to balance the need to protect the public from the spread of COVID-19 as to not overwhelm our hospital system while trying to preserve jobs and people’s livelihoods by ensuring as many of our citizens remain employed and able to provide for their families,” he stated. “This is a step that your local government can do but we need each and every one of our citizens to do their part so that we will get through this with the least amount of disruption.”

RELATED: Metro Health Confirms 6 New COVID-19 Cases as Testing Continues

The Stay Home Order, which begins late Tuesday night, states that all individuals living within the City of San Antonio and the suburban cities within Bexar County must stay home and only leave their homes to perform “allowed activities.” These movements are classified among four categories. 

Activities related to maintaining the health and safety of an individual’s family and their pets are permitted. Examples include seeking emergency services, obtaining medical supplies or medication and visiting a healthcare professional. This also includes caring for a family member or pet in someone else’s household.

Activities to obtain necessary supplies for themselves, their family and household, including groceries or food (such as from curbside or drive thru pickup from restaurants), pet supplies and pet food, supplies needed to work from home and consumer products, such as toilet paper and general cleaning supplies.

 If an individual works for an exempted business or government that is providing services needed by the public during this crisis, they will be allowed to work.

Outdoor activities, such as walking, running or cycling, are also allowed under the new order, provided that individuals are mindful of social distancing practices, such as staying six feet away from other people.

All public and private gatherings consisting of anyone other than a person’s own household or family are prohibited in this updated declaration.

Unless a business is allowing employees to work from home, maintaining security and maintenance of the business’ property and facilitating information technology services that allow employees to work from home, the orders state that all businesses must close and stop operations.

Businesses and organizations that are providing products and services that are needed by the community during this crisis are allowed. Exempted businesses may continue operating, provided they are exercising social distancing, which health officials believe is an important step in bending the curve.

RELATED: Local COVID-19 Case Count Rises to 39

Healthcare operations, including hospitals, clinics, dentists, pharmaceutical companies and veterinary offices will be allowed to operate, as well as government functions that provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public. This list includes first responders, military personnel; trash collection and water and electric utilities workers.

Schools and education personnel that work in public and private K-12 schools, colleges and universities - some of whom are still working to create viable formats for distance learning - will also be exempt. 

Companies that provide and maintain infrastructure, such as the construction of public works, housing and other frameworks that support critical needs, like water, sewer, gas and electricity, internet and telecommunications will stay in operation. Also under this umbrella, are businesses related to transportation, including gas stations, repair shops, car dealerships, manufacturers, public transportation, such as buses, taxis, rideshare companies and the San Antonio International Airport.

Without question, staying online over the next few weeks will be of the utmost importance. Information technology companies that provide and maintain internet and telecommunications systems will be permitted to operate as usual.

Retail businesses that sell food, gas and household products, such as grocery stores, large chain stores, farmers’ markets, laundromats and dry cleaners will stay open, too Also, charitable organizations that provide food, shelter and services to economically disadvantaged or vulnerable populations, including animals, will still be able to serve the community.

Hotels and other temporary residence facilities will be exempt. Also, businesses that provide home maintenance and other services that people need to work from home, such as mail and shipping companies, building maintenance, plumbers, electricians, exterminators and professional services, like legal or accounting services necessary to comply with legally required activities, such as filing taxes, will be, as much as can be expected, business as usual.

RELATED: Bexar County’s 29 Coronavirus Cases Classified by Mode of Transmission

The order states that news media workers may also remain in operation.This includes newspapers, television, radio and other media outlets that are providing localized information to the general public. 

Financial institutions, childcare services and funeral services are also allowed to operate.

Worship services that are distributed by video, teleconference or other remote measures will also be exempt.

Lastly, business and operations necessary to the 16 critical infrastructure sectors identified by the National Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) will also remain in operation. 

There is also a nursing home order that prohibits nursing homes, retirement and long-term care facilities from allowing access to non-essential visitors unless they are providing medical assistance or visiting a friend or family member expected to pass away soon.

TESTING CONTINUES

All public, private, and commercial laboratories operating within the City of San Antonio and performing COVID-19 testing will be providing daily reports of the number of coronavirus tests performed and the number of positive tests they find to Metro Health. This information will be used to monitor the testing conducted in the city.

Unless related to treatment or healthcare, those who are ill are urged to stay at home and not engage in activities outside their residence. If a person or their family member believes they have COVID-19 they should consult with a physician. Coronavirus testing continues to be available to those who have a referral from a doctor.

As stated by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, not everyone needs to be tested. A positive test does not change the medical treatment of the virus. Unless symptoms are severe or the patient is elderly or has other underlying health conditions, people who are experiencing the symptoms of COVID-19 should simply stay home, isolate, rest and recover. “A positive test for COVID-19 will not change that,” a spokesperson stated in a press release.

RELATED: Latest COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Prohibits Gatherings of 50 People Or More

These orders also urge San Antonians to follow the directives of Gov. Abbott and avoid elective surgery and medical procedures so that health professionals can focus on the crisis at hand.

Nirenberg’s issuance also supports the county’s order to suspend rental evictions and foreclosures for the next 30 days so that individuals who have lost their source of income can remain in their homes during this pandemic.

COVID-19 case updates are shared daily at 4 p.m. on the City’s website. Metro Health’s lab processes tests for 29 counties and only Bexar County cases remain in the city’s total. As of today, there are 57 positive COVID-19 cases. Of those cases, 28 are travel-related, seven are close contacts of previously diagnosed cases, 16 were community transmission and six are under investigation. This weekend, a death that has been linked to the virus, was reported.

HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS

Older adults and people with underlying medical conditions, such as lung or heart disease, diabetes, or a compromised immune system, seem to be particularly susceptible to COVID-19. Residents 60 years and older are urged to take the following precautions:

• Prepare a plan in the event that you become sick.

• If your caregiver becomes sick, have a back-up plan so that you know who will take the caregiver’s place.

• Have enough medication (three months worth) on hand in the event that you become ill.

• Stay informed on coronavirus updates locally and avoid crowds of any size.

• Seek medical attention if you develop any warning signs, such as difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, or blueness of the lips or face. 

As of March 23, there are 33,404 confirmed coronavirus cases and 400 virus-related deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

“While we have fewer cases than other cities, we’ve seen how this virus is affecting communities across the world, said District 7 City Councilwoman Ana Sandoval in a statement. “It’s clear that if we do not take these measures, we risk faster and wider community spread, driving severely ill patients to hospitals that could quickly become overloaded, resulting in preventable deaths.”

Jade Esteban Estrada is a staff writer at the San Antonio Sentinel, where he covers public health and other citywide issues. He can be reached at jade@sasentinel.com.