The COVID Project
The record
- Jurisdiction
- Travis County, Texas · Austin · Texas
- Level
- County
- Authority
- Tex. Gov't Code ch. 418, as recited
- Issued
- 2020-04-13 Apr. 13, 2020
- Effective
- 2020-04-13 11:59 p.m. (read as 2020-04-13)
- End
- 2020-05-08 11:59 a.m. (replaced by Order 2020-8, Ex. MET-AUS-041; stated term to 11:59 p.m. May 8, 2020) (read as 2020-05-08)
- In force
- Apr. 13, 2020 to May 8, 2020
- Quarters
- 2020 Q2
2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3
- Limitation types
- Stay-at-homeBusiness closureGathering capFace-covering requirementTravel and quarantineHealth care ordersCourts and public offices
- Addressees
- all individuals living within Travis County
- all persons over the age of ten (face coverings)
- all businesses
- nursing homes, retirement and long-term care facilities
- Functions reached
- CB stay-home customer base; face coverings
- SF/DR/SL premises closed
- OF offices closed except Minimum Basic Operations
- WF face coverings for every worker leaving home
- GATH all gatherings prohibited
- TR
- HC long-term care face coverings
- CRT deadlines suspended
- Collection
- Austin MET-AUS
Operative words
The County Judge deems it is in the public interest to issue this Order, effective as of 11:59 p.m. on April 13, 2020, and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on May 8, 2020, unless terminated or modified... b. Face Covering Requirements. Because an infected person can transmit the COVID-19 virus to others before showing any symptoms, the covering of a person's nose and mouth is necessary to help slow the spread of the virus. When leaving one's residence, all persons over the age of ten (10) shall wear some form of covering over their nose and mouth, such as a homemade mask, scarf, bandana or handkerchief, except when: i. Alone in a separate single space, whether indoor or outdoor; ii. In the presence only of other members of one's household or residence...; iii. When doing so poses a greater mental or physical health, safety or security risk; iv. When engaged in Outdoor Activity...; or v. For consumption purposes.... All non-residents in nursing homes, retirement and long-term care facilities shall wear a fabric face covering... SECTION 3. Prohibited Gatherings. All indoor or outdoor public and private gatherings [outside a single household are prohibited]... [SECTION 5:] rescinds and replaces prior County Judge Order 2020-5. SECTION 7. The County Judge SUSPENDS all deadlines imposed by local law, rule, or other regulation until May 8, 2020.
Enforcement
Misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days
Notes
The first Austin-area face-covering mandate (April 13, 2020), two weeks before GA-18 barred local penalties for failure to wear one. Companion: Austin Order 20200413-009 (Ex. MET-AUS-004, truncated file).
Retrieval noteRecording no. 2020058739, April 13, 2020, 2:53 p.m.).