Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins announced April 4 that he is extending the county’s stay-at-home order through April 30.
Previously on April 3, Dallas County Commissioners voted to extend the county’s disaster declaration order through May 20 while granting Jenkins the authority to lengthen the stay-at-home order.
He tweeted the following April 4:
The Dallas County commissioners voted Friday to extend the local disaster declaration until May 20 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Under the extended declaration, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins has extended the stay-at-home order until April 30. @wfaa
— Clay Jenkins (@JudgeClayJ) April 4, 2020
Commissioners originally approved the disaster declaration extension 4-1, with Commissioner John Wiley Price opposed.
Price said he thought the Dallas County order should be less stringent than the order Gov. Greg Abbott signed March 31.
“Especially for historical African American businesses, it will decimate [them],” Price said. “We are trying to figure out ... which poison [we are] going to pick. 60 days. Do I stay with current ... mitigation? Or do I just say, 'Hey, can we make some amendment?'"
The commissioners added an amendment that stated the court will continue working with the business community in addressing COVID-19 with the advice of the health community. The amendment also stated that the county will continue to work with business owners that would be disproportionately affected by the order, such as barbershops.
The order also allows for the court to rescind the order if COVID-19 outbreak conditions improve sooner. The order is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. May 20.
“I think that’s what the doctors asked for,” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said.
