“Y’all, stay home.”

That was the message this morning from Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams at a press conference at Fort Worth City Hall during which Whitley announced an expansion of the county’s disaster declaration and announced a shelter in place order going into effect at 11:59 p.m. tonight (Tuesday, March 24). Price and Whitley both said that the definitions of what is considered an essential business have been clarified, and the list of essential businesses is available at the city’s website.

The county’s “Stay Home, Work Smart” order shuts down all but essential businesses and bans all gatherings through at least April 3.

“If you are not on the essential list, work from home,” Price declared.

“It isn’t lost on us that these are incredibly hard times. But if you are sick, and we can’t treat you in the hospital,” then the situation gets exponentially worse, she added, stressing the need to “flatten the curve” of COVID-19 infections.

“This is uncharted territory,” Price continued. “Hopefully we will get through it sooner rather than later. [That’s why the shelter in place orders are being issued], so we can prevent more suffering and save lives. Stay safe. Stay healthy. And stay home.”

Williams echoed Price’s sentiments, acknowledging that tightening the restrictions was “a tough call for all of us leading our cities and our counties. … But it is going to take all of us working together and sending the message that we want to defeat the virus and get back to business as usual sooner rather than later.”

Williams also said that the “Stay at Home, Work Smart” order is not shutting down the county, “It means what it says: Work smart.”

The heads of several hospitals in Tarrant County spoke at the press conference, including Michael Sanborn, president and CEO of Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth, who said, “Today we have the capacity, and we are able to care for people who have this virus. But as we have seen happen in Italy, that capacity can be easily overwhelmed” if spread of the virus is not at least slowed down.

An official with Cook Children’s Medical Center agreed, saying, “This was not an easy decision [for county and city leaders to make] but it is the right decision. All of the hospitals are working together to make sure we have adequate staff and adequate supples. But if we don’t flatten the curve, we will run out of beds.”

Whitley said that he has heard people say their bosses have told them they have to go to work or risk losing their job. But, he insisted, “I am telling you, by this order, stay home! If you are sick, stay home. And if it comes to it, we may have to have some discussions” with employers later.

The county judge also encouraged everyone who has to go out for some reason, such as to get groceries, to “practice social distancing. Wipe your hands. Wipe down your groceries.” And, Price added, when making necessary trips to the grocery store or elsewhere, if at all possible only one person should go.

In what seemed a response to remarks Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made last night suggesting that the state should return to business as usual, sacrificing the health of senior citizens and other at-risk populations to restart the economy, Price said during the press conference that issuing more restrictive orders is necessary to “save lives and save jobs. And everyone’s life matters, no matter how or or how young.”

Price also stressed that anyone who needs medical attention or other help needs to reach out. “No residents of Fort Worth or Tarrant County will be left out, regardless of whether they are here illegally or not,” she said. “The same goes for people without insurance. If someone needs help, they just need to reach out and ask for help.”

— Tammye Nash