The State of Texas has eschewed the implementation of a statewide shelter order but has encouraged localities to take stricter actions they deem fit.
Many localities have followed the governor’s encouragement, such as Cleburne which is limiting how many household members can engage in “essential activities” at once.
Additional aspects of the Port Isabel order include prohibiting taxis, limousines, or shuttle buses from transporting passengers, stopping grocery stores from allowing in more than two persons per cart nor persons below the age of 14, and closing all “non-essential” businesses.
The order also includes a price-fixing provision that specifically prohibits “any person from charging more than the price prevailing on March 13, 2020” for a variety of shoppable goods.
On April 3, Port Isabel stated it had two confirmed cases of COVID-19. Cameron County has a total of 87 positive cases and confirmed its first coronavirus-related death on Monday.
The city has a population of just over 5,000 people.
A $500 fine penalty for non-compliance was instituted by the city, which is different from the majority of other enforcement provisions.
Port Isabel’s order will stand until June 3, unless rescinded or extended.
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Brad Johnson
Brad Johnson is a senior reporter for The Texan and an Ohio native who graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2017. He is an avid sports fan who most enjoys watching his favorite teams continue their title drought throughout his cognizant lifetime. In his free time, you may find Brad quoting Monty Python productions and trying to calculate the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow.
