Denton County officials acknowledged that orders from the governor “supersede” potentially conflicting local orders issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictions will not be imposed that are inconsistent with Abbott's orders, officials said.
“Our actions today keep us congruent with the state directive for reopening the economy,” Denton County Judge Andy Eads said. “The most recent orders by Gov. Abbott do stand as statewide directives. The county cannot reopen the economy with stricter measures than what the statewide order allows.”
Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley modified the county’s stay-at-home order April 21 in order to “harmonize” local county and city stay-at-home orders with the governor’s executive orders.
The current county order is not meant to restrict essential services that have been defined in Abbott’s executive orders, officials said. As the Texas Division of Emergency Management approves additional essential services, those services will be treated as essential business in Tarrant County, the order reads.
According to Denton County Public Health officials, there have been 17 deaths due to complications from the novel coronavirus in the county.
DCPH announced five additional COVID-19 cases April 20, for a total of 598 cases in the county, including three in the city of Roanoke.
Official numbers from Tarrant County Public Health indicate a total of 1,333 cases of COVID-19 in the county, including 42 deaths and 223 patients who have recovered.
There are 553 confirmed cases in Fort Worth, with 24 deaths and 95 patients who have recovered. There are five confirmed cases in ZIP code 76177 and 42 confirmed cases in ZIP code 76244.
TCPH has confirmed 22 cases of COVID-19 in the city of Keller, including one death and six patients who have recovered.
Executive orders issued April 20 by Gov. Greg Abbott are available here.
