Newsom: emergency declaration ’not martial law’
The Hopkins County Emergency Management team briefed media in a 3:30 p.m. press conference Thursday that Gov. Greg Abbott’s March 19 declaration at noon would take effect on midnight of March 20. The order reads as follows:
"Order No. 1: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, every person in Texas shall avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people.
"Order No. 2: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, people shall avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants, and food courts, or visiting gyms or massage parlors; provided, however, that the use of drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options is allowed and highly encouraged throughout the limited duration of this executive order.
"Order No. 3: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, people shall not visit nursing homes or retirement or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.
"Order No. 4: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, schools shall temporarily close."
“We’re in a different world than we were before noon,” Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom stated Thursday. “There are a lot of changes in the governor’s orders, and that supersedes Hopkins County.”
We’re doing this for public safety,” County Judge Robert Newsom said about the disaster declaration he made Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
In the declaration, Newsom urged citizens to cancel or postpone all gatherings of 10 or more people for at least the next seven days.
Newsom said the decisions with which the county has been faced have been difficult, especially when it comes to restricting places of gathering or worship.
According to Newsom, the order is “indefinite.”
“We can easily anticipate this lasting through March and into April,” Newsom said.
According to Newsom, those who hold social gatherings of 10 or more people will be subject to possible fines from law enforcement; however, emergency management coordinator Andy Endsley was specific: These rules only apply to social gatherings, such as parties, church services, family reunion and rallies. This does not apply to those who are “conducting business” such as school boards, staff meetings and even the commissioner’s courts. (See related stories, pages 1A and 2A.)
“I think it’s going to be a really good thing for us to be in our homes, in small groups and enjoying fellowship,” Newsom said. “We’re going to hear the Word in whole new realms, via the Internet. Churches are doing very innovative things.”
Newsom was also clear that he does not believe this should affect local businesses. In fact, he believes, now is a time more than ever to support local businesses.
Furthermore, said the emergency management team, it is “absolutely not” their intention to declare martial law.
“It’s not that we want to terminate gyms, youth programs and churches,” HCSO Chief Deputy Tanner Crump stated. “People need to understand that a congregation of the public is a danger to the vulnerable population in our community, whether it’s Hopkins County or statewide.”