Local leaders continue restrictions
By Melinda L. Lucas
Shackelford County followed the City of Albany in declaring a local “state of disaster due to a public health emergency” when county judge Robert Skelton signed documentation last Thursday, March 26.
The City of Moran is required to follow the county-wide guidelines, but Moran city council members are also reportedly poised to file a similar ordinance.
At press time, there were still no confirmed cases of -COVID-19 in Shackelford County, but numbers in Taylor County were nearing a dozen, and about half of Texas counties were reporting cases.
A total of four -COVID-19 tests have been administered to Shackelford County citizens, the latest one on Monday. Results from two of the tests earlier in March were both negative, and results from the other two tests were not available at press time.
With a 10-person limit on all gatherings already in place locally, little changed in Albany after Gov. Greg Abbott’s press conference on Tuesday afternoon except that a few more local businesses were required to close their doors, including hair and nail salons. Massage therapists were included in last week’s executive order.
County Declaration
The declaration that Skelton signed last week was good for seven days, but county commissioners are expected to extend the order when they meet this morning (April 2) in special session.
The disaster declaration will then be in effect until terminated by the county judge.
“The county has not expended any monetary capital currently in the battle against COVID-19,” said Skelton, “but that could change at any moment.”
Skelton said that he wanted to put the county in position for reimbursement should it become necessary to purchase Personal Protective Equipment or authorize other types of expenditures.
Like the mayor’s declaration a couple of weeks before, the county document limits gathering to 10 or less, activates the county emergency management plan, and authorizes the furnishing of aid and assistance to citizens.
Penalties for noncompliance are the same as the city’s.
Skelton said that one of his primary concerns was that one or more of the local deputies might be exposed to the coronavirus and need to quarantine.
“That could leave the county shorthanded, and with a declaration in place, the county could ask the Governor for law enforcement support,” said the judge.
Continued Effort
Albany mayor pro tem Susan Montgomery stated earlier this week that local citizens are working hard to comply with the orders and recommendations that are meant to help keep them safe from the coronavirus.
“The main focus is to save lives,” said Montgomery. “Almost everyone here in Albany has taken this situation seriously, and even though none of us like the inconvenience, we need to keep up this enormous effort for another few weeks.”
Montgomery, along with many other leaders across the nation, believe that abiding by whatever restrictions are in place will eventually make a difference in curbing the pandemic.
“It is absolutely critical that we continue to work together,” said the mayor. “I’m just so proud of everyone in our community.”
She commended employees at the two local health clinics, along with the EMS and pharmacy staffs.
“This is truly our front line of defense, and these people are working hard to keep our community safe,” said Montgomery.
The mayor added that she had spoken with representatives from Congressman Jodey Arrington’s office on Tuesday.
“They were very complimentary about the diligence of Shackelford County citizens in complying so quickly after restrictions were put into place,” Montgomery said.
She pointed out that 87 percent of the state is already under shelter-in-place or stay-at-home regulations, as are 30 entire states.
“We are in a minority, and in order to keep what freedom we have, we can’t let up,” she said. “So everyone, please be careful and take care of yourselves and others.”
