Bowie and Cass lift restrictions

Cities end curfew

TEXARKANA, Texas — Bowie County and Cass County in Texas let their coronavirus stay-athome orders expire at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, loosening restrictions that have closed businesses and prohibited gatherings, and both cities of Texarkana have lifted a nightly curfew.

Cass County Judge Becky Wilbanks announced her decision late Wednesday in a letter posted on Facebook.

“At this time, I see no need to continue” the county’s stay-at-home order, Wilbanks stated. The order had been in place since April 1.

Wilbanks encouraged residents to remain vigilant about the pandemic, which according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, had killed more than 57,000 Americans as of Wednesday.

“Never take for granted that it could not happen to you because it can. Please continue, no matter how good our numbers may be, to be cautious and continue to practice the health protocols. The virus will still be around; we just have to be smarter than it,” she stated.

In a Thursday afternoon news release, the Bowie County and Cass County emergency Joint Operations Center announced Bowie County Judge Bobby Howell’s decision to lift a shelter-inplace order, as well as Texarkana, Texas, Mayor Bob Bruggeman’s decision to end a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in the city.

Howell urged residents to continue following Governor Abbott’s Executive Orders and following CDC guidelines for social distancing, handwashing, and sanitizing.

In a separate release, the Miller County, Arkansas, Office of Emergency Management said the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew for Texarkana, Arkansas, is also being lifted.

Both Bowie County and Cass County are deferring to Gov. Greg Abbott’s Strike Force to Open

Texas, which this week announced a strategy to restart the state’s economy in stages, beginning Friday with retailers, restaurants and movie theaters.

Retailers may reopen but must limit the number of customers to 25% of capacity. In rural counties that have reported fewer than five coronavirus cases, customers must be limited to 50% of capacity. Retail spaces where people gather, such as food courts and playgrounds, must remain closed.

Restaurants must follow the same capacity rules and enforce other restrictions. No more than six people may dine at a table, and tables must be separated by at least 6 feet. Restaurants must use disposable menus and can serve condiments only in single servings and only upon request. Pickup and delivery service remain allowed. Self-service buffets are prohibited, and bars will remain closed, even if they serve food.

Movie theaters also must restrict customer numbers to 25% of capacity, or 50% in counties with fewer than five cases. Customers must keep two seats between them and others, except for groups that live together. There must be an empty row of seats

between occupied rows. Theaters must clean frequently touched surfaces between screenings, and there are food service restrictions similar to those in place for restaurants.

No sports that require physical contact are allowed, and only four people may play together at once. Golfers are restricted to one per cart, except for those who live together, and they must stay at least 6 feet apart. Carts must be cleaned after each use.

If the task force does not see a spike in coronavirus cases by May 18, stage two will take effect, loosening restrictions on hair salons and barber shops, gyms, and bars.