Restrictions |
Effective Dates
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From 11:59 p.m. on March
24, 2020 through 11:59 p.m. on April 3, 2020
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Coverage
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All individuals currently
living within Harris County are ordered to stay at their place of residence
except for Essential Activities (defined below).
All persons may leave their Residences
(defined below) only for Essential Activities (defined below), or to provide or
perform Essential Governmental Functions (defined below), or to operate
Essential Businesses.
Residence - For purposes of the Order, Residence includes homes, hotels,
motels, shared rentals, and similar facilities.
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Homeless
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Individuals experiencing
homelessness are exempt from the Order except that they are to try to maintain
social distancing of at least six feet from any other person.
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Businesses, Other Than Essential
Businesses, to Cease Operations (employees can work from home)
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All businesses operating within Harris County are required
to cease all activities at facilities located within the County. This does not
apply to Essential Businesses.
Businesses may continue operations with employees or contractors working
from home.
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No Gatherings |
All public or private
gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or
living unit are prohibited. There are exceptions for certain outdoor spaces and
activities (see Public Parks, etc. below).
This does not prohibit the
gathering of members of a household or living unit.
This does not affect orders
or agreements regarding child-related visitation or custody arrangements. |
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Public Parks, etc. Okay |
Individuals may go to public
parks and open outdoor recreation areas. Note that six-foot social distancing
requirements still apply.
Public playgrounds are closed
- they may increase spread of COVID-19.
People are advised not to touch benches, water fountains, swings, or
other outdoor objects. |
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Restaurants, Bars, etc. May
Provide Take-Out Services |
Restaurants, bars,
micro-breweries, micro-distilleries, wineries, and other establishments that
serve food may only serve food and/or alcohol by take out, delivery, or drive-through
services. |
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Gyms, Fitness Centers,
Pools, etc. Closed |
Gyms, fitness centers,
swimming pools, and other facilities that are used or intended to be used for
any type of training, martial arts, sport, or recreation shall close. |
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Hair, Nail Salons, Concert
Halls, Stadiums, Theaters, etc. Are Closed |
Hair and nail salons, spas,
licensed massage businesses and tattoo parlors, concert halls, live performance
theaters, arenas, stadiums, movie theaters, game rooms, bowling alleys,
arcades, indoor and outdoor flea markets and swap meets, indoor malls, indoor
shopping centers, and bingo halls shall close. |
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Faith Based and Other
Religious Services Are Restricted |
Faith leaders may minister and
counsel in individual settings.
Religious and worship services
may only be provided by video and teleconference.
Religious institutions must
limit in-person staff to those necessary for preparing for or conducting video
or teleconference services.
In all cases, the six-foot social distancing rules must be observed. |
Essential Activities
(Permitted Activities) |
Health and Safety |
To engage in activities or
perform tasks essential to their health and safety, or to the health and safety
of their family or household members (for example, obtaining medical supplies
or medication, visiting a healthcare professional, or obtaining supplies needed
to work from home). |
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Obtaining Necessary
Services or Supplies |
To obtain necessary
services or supplies for themselves and their family or household members, or
to deliver those services or supplies to others (for example, food, pet
supplies, and any other household consumer products, supplies needed to work
from home, and products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and
essential operation of residences). |
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Outdoor Activities |
To engage in outdoor
activity (for example, walking, biking, hiking, running, or fishing), provided
the individuals comply with social distancing requirements of six feet. |
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Working for Essential
Businesses and Other Permitted Activities |
To perform work providing
essential products and services at an Essential Business or to otherwise carry
out activities specifically permitted in the Order. |
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Care for Family Members or
Pets |
To care for a family member
or pet in another household. |
Essential Businesses |
Essential Critical
Infrastructure |
Work
necessary to the operations and maintenance of the 16 critical infrastructure
sectors identified by CISA (see below) provided that they carry out those
services or that work in compliance with social distancing requirements of six
feet to the extent possible.
Note: The
Harris County Order provides additional guidance as to how the 16 critical
infrastructure sectors apply in Harris County.
Note: A
copy of the extensive guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
National Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) regarding the
16 critical infrastructure sectors is included at the end of the Order and can
be accessed at https://www.readyharris.org/Stay-Home.
The 16 sectors are:
Healthcare/Public Health
Law Enforcement, Public Safety, and First Responders
Food and Agriculture
Energy
Water and Wastewater
Transportation and Logistics
Public Works
Communications and Information Technology
Other Community-Based Government Operations and
Essential Functions
Critical Manufacturing
Hazardous Materials
Financial Services
Chemical
Defense Industrial Base
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Essential Government
Functions |
All services provided by local
governments and municipalities located in Harris County needed to ensure their
continuing operation to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the
public, including law enforcement, jail operations, and other services.
Must comply with social distancing requirements of six feet to the
extent possible. |
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Essential City of Houston
Government Functions |
All services provided by the
City of Houston that the Mayor of the City of Houston determines to be essential
Government Functions.
Must comply with social distancing requirements of six feet to the
extent possible. |
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Essential Healthcare
Operations |
Healthcare operations, including hospitals, clinics, dentists, pharmacies, pharmaceutical and
biotechnology companies, other healthcare facilities, healthcare suppliers,
mental health providers, substance abuse service providers, blood banks,
medical research, laboratory services, or any related and/or ancillary
healthcare services.
Home-based and residential-based care for seniors, adults, or children are also considered
healthcare operations.
Healthcare operations also include veterinary care and
all health and welfare services provided to animals.
This exemption is to be
viewed broadly to avoid any impacts to the delivery of healthcare.
Note: On March 22, 2020,
Governor Greg Abbott ordered that all non-essential (elective) surgeries and
medical procedures be postponed until 11:59 p.m. on April 21, 2020. Governor Abbot has subsequently issued
additional orders that further clarify this order. |
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Essential Retail |
Food producers and service
providers, including grocery stores, warehouse stores, furniture suppliers,
big box stores, bodegas, liquor stores, gas stations and convenience stores, and
farmers’ markets that sell food products and household staples.
Food cultivation, including
farming, ranching, fishing, and livestock.
Food production, including
the production of canned goods, bottled beverages, and other grocery items.
Businesses that ship or
deliver groceries, food, goods, or services directly to residences.
Restaurants and other
facilities that prepare and serve food, but only for delivery, drive-thru, or
carry-out.
Schools and other entities
that typically provide free services to students or members of the public on
a pick-up and take-away basis only.
The restriction of delivery
or carry-out does not apply to cafes and restaurants located within hospital
and medical facilities.
Laundromats, dry cleaners,
and laundry service providers.
Gas stations, auto supply,
auto and bicycle repair, hardware stores, and related facilities.
Businesses that supply
products needed for people to work from home. |
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Providers of Basic
Necessities to Economically Disadvantaged Populations |
Businesses that provide
food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for
economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals. |
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Essential Services
Necessary to Maintain Essential Operations of Residences or Other Essential
Businesses |
Trash and recycling
collection, processing and disposal, mail and shipping services, building
cleaning, maintenance and security, warehouse/distribution and fulfillment,
storage for essential businesses, funeral homes, crematoriums, and
cemeteries.
Plumbers, electricians,
exterminators, yard and maintenance crews, housekeepers, janitorial staff,
pool cleaners and other service providers who provide services that are
necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operations of
residences and Essential Businesses.
Professional services, such
as legal or accounting services, when necessary to assist in compliance with
legally mandated activities.
Businesses that supply other
Essential Businesses with support or utilities needed to operate.
Caregivers and helpers who
provide services to seniors and disabled individuals. |
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News Media |
Newspapers, television,
radio, and other media services. |
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Childcare and Adult Care
Services |
Childcare and adult care
facilities providing services that enable employees exempted in the Order to
work as permitted. |
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Infrastructure,
Development, Operation, and Construction |
For example, public works
construction, construction of housing or other types of construction including
commercial, manufacturing, airport operations and aircraft manufacturing,
maintenance or repair, water, sewer, gas, electrical, oil refining, roads and
highways, public transportation, solid waste collection and removal, internet,
and telecommunications systems (including the provision of essential global,
national, and local infrastructure for computing services, business
infrastructure, communications, and web-based services). |
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Transportation |
Businesses related to the
operation, maintenance, construction, and manufacture of transportation
services.
For example:
(a) vehicle manufacturers,
automotive suppliers and parts departments, car dealerships, parts
distributors, maintenance and repair
facilities;
(b) public transportation;
(c) businesses supporting
airport operations;
(d) street and highway
maintenance and construction;
(e) gas stations and other
fuel distribution businesses; and
(f) vehicles for hire,
including public transportation services, Uber, Lyft, and taxicabs, that
enable persons to travel to or from employers, service providers, or
businesses exempted in the Order. However, people riding on public transit
must comply with the six-foot social distancing requirements to the greatest
extent feasible. |
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Labor Union Functions |
Critical labor union
functions, including the maintenance of health and welfare funds and checking
on the well-being and safety of members. |
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NASA and Port of Houston |
Activities of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Port of Houston.
Note: These are very broadly stated exceptions that seem to permit any
activities associated with NASA or the Port of Houston. We anticipate that
there will be amendments or clarifications to these exceptions in order to
better define what is covered by these exceptions. |
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Airports and Related
Operations |
Airport and airline
activities, operations, maintenance and repairs, and the hotels that serve
these Essential Businesses.
Note: This is a very broadly stated exception that seems to permit any
activities associated with our airports. We anticipate that there will be
amendments or clarifications to this exception in order to better define what
is covered by this exemption. |
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Professional Services |
Professional services, such
as legal or accounting services, insurances services, and “real estate services”
when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities or to
further Essential Businesses, Essential Government functions, or Critical
Infrastructure. |