Smith County, TX
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Last Updated April 27, 2020 at 4:30 p.m.
UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
On April 27, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott held a press conference about his plan to open up Texas in phases beginning May 1, and to allow his "stay at home" order to expire on Thursday, April 30, 2020.
To view the Governor's Executive Order G-18, click here:
2020-04-27 Governor's Executive Order GA-18
To view the Governor’s Report to Open Texas, issued April 27, click here:
2020-04-27 Governor Greg Abbott's OpenTexas-Report
In accordance with Governor Abbott’s Executive Order GA-18, the following are the minimum recommended health protocols for Texas as outlined in the report by Texas Health and Human Services:
2020-04-27 State of Texas Minimum Standard Health Protocols for COVID-19
DAILY UPDATES FROM THE NORTHEAST TEXAS PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICT
As of April 27, 2020, there are 60 active cases of COVID-19 in Smith County. To date, there have been 139 positive cases in Smith County. The Northeast Texas Public Health District has reported 76 people have recovered from COVID-19 and there have been three COVID-19 related deaths in Smith County.
To view the Daily Update on COVID-19 in Smith County, click here:
2020-04-27 Daily Update on COVID-19 in Smith County
2020-04-27 Smith County COVID-19 Dashboard
2020-04-27 Smith County COVID-19 Dashboard Spanish
TO VIEW PRESS CONFERENCES ON COVID-19 IN SMITH COUNTY
To view past press conferences, click here: https://tinyurl.com/yccfwuwo
To view live streaming press conferences as they are happening, click here: https://tinyurl.com/y7f3r6w3
All COVID-19 related press conferences and briefings can also be found on the Fire Marshal's page.
PRIMARY ROLES OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT
2020-04-21 Primary Roles of County Government - COVID-19
The graphic found at the link above is a look at the primary roles of County Government during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every day, county officials are working with other local and state officials to make the best decisions for the community as a whole. Dozens of government workers and health care providers and experts are working around the clock to get accurate and helpful information out to the public; to help get the community what it needs through planning, logistics and coordination; to exercise appropriate regulatory authority when absolutely necessary to protect life; and to advocate on behalf of local citizens and businesses to our state leaders based on the local input we receive. We are learning more each day about this new pandemic, and our pledge is to continue serving this County with reasoned and thoughtful decisions rooted in facts, not fear. #ShareFactsNotFear #StopTheSpread
GOVERNOR'S ORDERS
On April 17, Governor Greg Abbott issued three Executive Orders to begin the process of reopening the State of Texas while revising hospital capacity and certain social distancing guidelines. Within the orders, select activities and services that pose minimal to no threat of spreading COVID-19 will be allowed to reopen using a "Retail-To-Go" model, certain restrictions on surgeries have been loosened, and schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year. According to the GA 17 Order, a Strike Force was created “to advise the governor on safely and strategically restarting and revitalizing all aspects of the Lone Star State — work, school, entertainment, and culture.”
Read the full Executive Orders here:
2020-04-17 Governor Gregg Abbott Order GA-15
2020-04-17 Governor Gregg Abbott Order GA-16
2020-04-17 Governor Gregg Abbott Order GA-17
On April 7, 2020, Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran extended his local “Stay at Home” Order for all Smith County residents until April 30, 2020. This extension mirrors the time period of Governor Greg Abbott’s GA 14 Order, which began on March 31, and mandated “Stay at Home” restrictions state-wide through the end of April.
2020-04-07 Amended Smith County Stay at Home Order
Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran issued a “Stay at Home” Order for all Smith County residents on Friday, March 27, 2020. The order is an amendment to Smith County’s “Declaration of Local Disaster Due to Public Health Emergency for Smith County, Texas.”
2020-03-27 Amended Order of Declaration of Local Disaster Due to Public Health Emergency
APRIL 3 UPDATE: Smith County Officials have worked with local businesses to clarify application of the terms of County Judge Nathaniel Moran’s “Stay at Home” Order and what steps those businesses must take to comply with that order, as well as the statewide order of the Governor. For more information, click here:
2020-04-03 Press Release Smith County Warning Businesses to Comply With Orders
2020-04-03 Smith County Letter to Retailers
For Smith County Stay at Home Order guidelines regarding Car/RV Dealerships, click here:
Smith County Stay at Home Order Guidelines - Car-RV Dealerships
For more information about Judge Moran's "Stay at Home" Order for Smith County, read the press releases or graphics below:
2020-03-27 Press Release Smith County Stay at Home Order
2020-03-27 Press Release Smith County Stay at Home Order-Spanish
Essential vs. Non-Essential Graphic
Smith County Order-Does and Donts Graphic
After reading County Judge Nathaniel Moran's Stay at Home Order, if you have specific questions, please email them to covid19@smith-county.com
SMITH COUNTY VOUCHER PROGRAM
Smith County and NDMJ Transportation are teaming up to use the County’s Voucher Program to deliver food, water, medication and other necessities to elderly and disabled citizens who do not have transportation.
2020-04-08 Press Release Voucher Program
NET HEALTH CALL CENTER
The Northeast Texas Public Health District’s Center for Healthy Living established a call center for COVID-19 pre-screening for Smith County residents without a primary care provider. If you are experiencing or developing COVID-19 symptoms, call 903-617-6404. Community Health Workers and recruited volunteers will make referrals to local medical providers in Smith County.
2020-04-06 NET Health Call Center Established
TRAVEL IN TEXAS
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to prevent further spread into the state of Texas from hotspot areas, Governor Greg Abbott has tasked the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) with enforcing two Executive Orders surrounding travel into the state of Texas. For more information, click here:
2020-03-31 State of Texas Travel Press Release
DA'S OFFICE AIDS IN CONTACT TRACING
The Smith County District Attorney’s Office is dedicating the majority of its investigators to aid local health officials in their contact tracing efforts for COVID-19.
2020-03-30 Press Release DA Investigators Aiding Health Officials
COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETINGS
Until further notice, Smith County Commissioners Court Meetings held every Tuesday will be closed to the public but streamed live online. People wishing to make public comment can fill out a form at www.smith-county.com before the meeting. Members of the public are encouraged to view the meetings live by clicking the following link: https://tinyurl.com/spombtj and click on Commissioners Court Live Stream. The meeting will also be live at https://www.facebook.com/SmithCountyTexas/
Once the live stream is over, the recorded video can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/sqjq7kw
UPDATE ON JURY DUTY:
Smith County has suspended jury duty through June 1, to follow guidelines announced by the Texas Judicial Branch - Office of Court Administration. Jurors who have received a summons to appear in court on any day through the end of May do not have to appear at the Smith County Courthouse. The jurors will be rescheduled and will receive a new summons. Grand juries are still meeting.
UPDATE ON TAX OFFICE
2020-04-01 Press Release Tax Office Closed
For more information about all Smith County Government Offices limiting public interface to its services, as well as how Commissioners Court meetings are being held, click here:
2020-03-24 Limitation of County Services
GOVERNOR'S ORDERS
On March 31, The Governor of the State of Texas issued an executive order relating to COVID-19 preparedness and mitigation: 2020-03-31 Governor Gregg Abbott's Order GA 14
On March 22, The Governor of the State of Texas issued an executive order relating to COVID-19 preparedness and mitigation: 2020-3-22- Governor's Executive Order
On March 19, The Governor of the State of Texas issued an executive order relating to COVID-19 preparedness and mitigation: 2020-3-19 Executive Order by the Governor of the State of Texas
On March 17, the Smith County Commissioners Court ratified the Declaration of Local Disaster Due to Public Health Emergency from the Coronavirus, signed by County Judge Nathaniel Moran on March 16.
To view the news release, detailing what the Disaster Declaration means, click here:
2020-03-17 Press Release Ratification of Emergency Declaration
To view the order ratifying the Declaration of Disaster, click here:
2020-3-17-Order Ratifying the Disaster Declaration
The Declaration of Disaster can be viewed here:
2020-03-16 Declaration of Local Disaster Due to Public Health Emergency for Smith County
The Smith County Courts-at-Law Judges have issued joint guidelines affecting their court proceedings, which can be found here:
2020-3-16 Smith County Courts at Law Joint Statement Regarding Health and Safety Concerns
Smith County officials are in regular contact with the Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health), the local health authority that works with the State Department of Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control.
THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
Please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for all of the latest nationwide information on the Coronavirus: https://www.cdc.gov/
Find out who is at higher risk of getting sick from COVID-19 and how to prevent it: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html
NORTHEAST TEXAS PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICT
For up-to-date information on the Coronavirus in East Texas, please visit the website of the Northeast Texas Public Health District: https://www.nethealthcovid19.org/