The "Stay Home Stay Safe" order went effect just before midnight on Friday, April 3, and is active through April 30.
Gov. Greg Abbott issued a state wide stay-at-home executive order on Tuesday, March 31, that extends through the same period of time.
An amendment to the county's disaster declaration, originally issued on March 20, was also signed by Kutscher and was announced at the same time as the order.
The amendment suspends foreclosure proceedings in the county for the next 30 days—giving vulnerable residents a temporary reprieve from the possibility of losing their homes due to closures related to the virus impacting their income and livelihoods.
The ordinance could be extended and is intended "to prevent the displacement of occupants during the public health emergency."
Guadalupe County's order requires all of the county's residents to stay in their homes unless they are performing essential activities, such as seeking medical care, shopping for groceries or working at jobs deemed essential by the state of Texas or the county.
Gatherings of any size outside of personal residences is prohibited but limited outdoor activities are still allowed, such as walking, biking or running, as long as social distancing measures set forth by the CDC are observed.
Organizations and services listed as essential by the state of Texas and Comal County may continue minimum basic operations.
Minimum basic operations are defined as
- The minimum necessary activities to maintain the value of the business's inventory, ensure security, process payroll and employee benefits, or for related functions
- The minimum necessary activities to facilitate employees of the business being able to continue to work remotely from their residences.
Neighboring Comal County issued its own stay-at-home order at the same time as Guadalupe.
As of Thursday, April 2, there were 23 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 in Guadalupe and five have recovered. 10 new cases were announced since Sunday.
In Comal, there have been 18 confirmed cases of the disease and two deaths.
The breakdown of active cases in Guadalupe County is as follows:
- Cibolo - 6
- Schertz - 3
- Seguin - 4
- New Braunfels - 2
- Selma - 1
- Unincorporated County - 6
- Location confirmation pending - 1
- Recovered - 5
