The order does not require that people stay at home, but it instead strongly urges the populace to do so, League City Mayor Pat Hallisey said.
“It’s about trying to grasp the public’s attention that this is a serious matter and they need to help by demonstrating some personal responsibility here,” Hallisey said.
A stay-at-home order asks that all Galveston County residents stay in their place of residence, leaving only for what is deemed an essential activity.
“We’re just trying to do all we can to try to beat back this spread,” Friendswood Mayor Mike Foreman said.
Essential activities can include procuring medicine, obtaining supplies and visiting a health care professional, according to the order. Citizens can also go to work and can go care for other family members.
All businesses that are not health care, government functions, critical infrastructure, retail, social services, news media, child care services, and some maintenance and publics works are urged to close. Nonessential businesses can continue to run so long as employees are able to work from home.
Individuals can also go outside for physical activity but must remain 6 feet from other people.
The Galveston County Commissioners Court also voted to extend the state of local disaster to April 22 with further extensions possible.
