City of Waco Issues Shelter-In-Place Order

WACO, TX – The City of Waco announced Monday a shelter in place order that will go into effect tonight. The decision comes on the heels of the 17th Coronavirus case reported by the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District.

According to the Waco Tribune-Herald, the order requires residents to stay at home. It does exempt hospitals, healthcare facilities, grocery stores, food cultivators, professional service providers such as accountants, hardware stores, plumbers and electricians, shipping agencies.

The Waco newspaper boiled the restrictions down to this: "Residents may only leave home for three reasons: To meet essential needs such as food, health, and outdoor exercise; to work in essential services; and to participate in government activity. Among businesses closed will be hair and nail salons."

Establishments that provide any type of shelter, media, gas stations and convenience stores, banks, restaurants that provide takeout or drive-through service and child care facilities are also exempt.

There are currently 352 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the state.  As of noon Monday, the State of Texas counts10,055 tests that have been administered. Concerns continue to rise as the number of tests available to the state of Texas seem to trail behind the number of people who may have been exposed to the virus.

Dallas County issued a similar shelter in place order on Sunday.