Brownsville commission amends declaration of local state disaster

The Brownsville City Commission amended its declaration of local state disaster during a meeting Tuesday in compliance with Gov. Greg Abbott’s orders. 

The amended declaration will remain in effect until May 5. 

Helen Ramirez, deputy city manager for Brownsville, informed changes in the amended declaration include: 

–Starting Friday, all retail outlets that are not considered “essential services” will be allowed to reopen provided they can conduct business through pickup, mail or doorstep delivery, and comply with strict terms by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Customers may not enter the premises;

–All medical, surgical and dental procedures that are not medically necessary, shall be postponed unless the procedure can be performed in accordance with the commonly acceptable standard of clinical practice without depleting the hospital capacity or the personal protective equipment needed to cope with the COVID-19 disaster response.

The procedures can be performed in licensed health facilities that have certified to the Texas Health and Human Commission it will reserve 25% of the hospital capacity to treat COVID-19 patients and will not request any personal protective equipment from federal, state or local public sources during the COVID-19 disaster;

–Schools shall be temporarily closed to in-person classroom attendance by students during the duration of the declaration or until specifically reopened by the governor. 

“Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent a school from distributing meals, conducting remote classes or online classes, and carrying out administrative duties,” Ramirez said.

Schools are defined as all K-12 campuses, trade schools, vocational schools, colleges or universities not otherwise designated by the state of Texas as a state agency, agent or contractor providing governmental services;

–Employees of child and adult care centers, nursing facilities, plasma centers and medical facilities or hospitals, shall not work at more than one center, facility or hospital;

–All city parks are reopened provided that use of park amenities such as playground sets, fitness equipment, restrooms and other features will continue to be closed for public use; and

–Facial coverings are required for all individuals over the age of 5 in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators, as those are critical supplies that should continue to be reserved for health care workers and other medical first responders, according to the declaration. 

In a work session during the commission meeting, the Public Health department updated the commission on the city’s COVID-19 drive-thru testing site totals. 

As of Tuesday, there are 99 positive COVID-19 cases, 1,125 negative and 117 pending results, according to Public Health. 

There have been 1,258 tests administered since the site opened and 1,602 applicants who did not meet criteria. The total for patients insured is 56% and uninsured 44%.