LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Rafael Benavides,

 LAREDO, Texas—Due to public health concerns caused by the spread of COVID-19, and taking into consideration advice from federal, state and local health authorities, Mayor Pete Saenz, pursuant to the authority vested by the Texas Government Code Chapter 418, has issued an order prohibiting community gathering of 50 persons or more anywhere in the city of Laredo beginning at 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. The order will be continued until rescinded, superseded, amended or until expired pursuant to applicable law.

“I have decided to take this aggressive action in order to stop the spread of this virus and to give our medical community the time and resources they need to effectively deal with this pandemic,” said Mayor Pete Saenz. “I ask all Laredoans to do their part and stay home at least until told otherwise. We are all in this together and we are working to make sure that everyone is adequately protected. I realize we are currently in Spring Break, but this is not a vacation. Spend some time with your family at home and let us take care of the situation at hand.”

Community gatherings as defined by this order means any indoor or outdoor event, or convening, that brings together or is likely to bring together 50 or more at the same time in a single room or other single confined or enclosed space such as an auditorium, theatre, indoor or outdoor stadium, arena/event center, meeting hall, conference center or large cafeteria.

This order includes, but is not limited to, weddings, religious gatherings, parties, funerals, sporting events, social events, conferences, and other large gatherings.

The order does not prohibit gatherings of people in multiple, separate enclosed spaces, including separate cubicles in a single building such as a multiplex movie theatre, school classrooms, or different floors of a multi-level building, so long as 50 persons are not present in a single space at the same time.

Community gatherings does not include spaces where 50 or more persons may transit on buses, trains, or airplanes, or may be waiting for transit such as airports, bus stops or terminals.

In addition, community gatherings does not include the following spaces where 50 or more persons may congregate so long as visitors are generally not within arm’s length of one another for extended periods: Office space or residential buildings, grocery stores, shopping malls, or other retail establishments where large numbers of people may be present but where it is unusual for them to be within arm’s length of one another for extended periods of time such as hospitals, medical offices and other medical facilities.

Furthermore, the Director of Health recommends following social distancing protocols of at least six feet of separation. It is also urged that individuals who are the highest risk from COVID-19, such those 60 years old or older and persons with certain health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, kidney disease and weakened immune systems, avoid community gatherings or events that will have or are likely to have 10 or more persons in the same room or confined space.

If you feel sick, do not go to work or school, stay home. Call your doctor or clinic beforehand to schedule an appointment. Do not go to the emergency room unless you have an urgent medical issue. You may also call the City of Laredo Health Department Coronavirus Hotline 24 hours a day at (956) 795-4954.

Laredo police officers and code enforcement inspectors are enforcing this order. Any person who violates any provision of this order, upon conviction, is punishable by a fine of not less than $50 and no more than $2,000.