Dallas County Amends Public Health Emergency Order to Address Price Gouging, Safety Provisions for Contractors, and Travel Restrictions

Published:
Tue 3/31/20
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Dallas County recently issued another amended Public Health Emergency Order effective March 29 at 11:59pm that addresses price gouging, safety provisions for contractors and travel restrictions, among others.
 
To date, the Town of Addison's orders have mirrored those of Dallas County. Because of the rapidly changing environment, Addison will no longer create its own amended orders and will rely on the Dallas County orders from this point forward.
 
You can report violations to the public safety non-emergency number at 972-450-7156. Please be aware that the Addison Police Department will prioritize its enforcement efforts.
 
Below is a summary of the changes:
 
Added “Minimum Basic Operations” language that allows non-essential businesses to do the following:
  • 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.
Added “Essential Travel” language that includes travel for any of the following purposes:
  • Travel related to the provision of or access to Essential Activities, Essential Governmental Functions, Essential Businesses, Essential Critical Infrastructure, and Minimum Basic Operation;
  • Travel to care for elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons;
  • Travel to or from educational institutions for purposes of receiving materials for distance learning, for receiving meals, and any other related services;
  • Travel to return to a place of residence from outside the jurisdiction;
  • Travel required by law enforcement or court order;
  • Travel by church staff or clergy for the purpose of production of remote delivery of religious services and other ministries requiring travel;
  • Travel related to attending a funeral service; or
  • Travel required for non-residents to return to their place of residence outside the County.
Added Safety Provisions for Contractors:
  • The Order classified construction for public works, residential, commercial, and schools as critical infrastructure. Elective additions and maintenance are prohibited.
  • All employers involved in construction activity must follow the requirements set forth in the COVID-19 Safety Recommendations issued by the Construction Industry Safety Coalition.
Added Prohibition on Price Gouging. No person shall sell any of the following goods or services for more than the regular retail price the person charged for the goods or services on March 16, 2020:
  • Groceries, beverages, toilet articles, and ice;
  • Restaurant, cafeteria, and boarding-house meals; and
  • Medicine, pharmaceutical and medical equipment, and supplies.

Dallas County Commissioners Court has a special meeting scheduled for Friday, April 3 at 9am to discuss the extension of the current order. You can watch the meeting on the Dallas County website.

Get more COVID-19 updates here.

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