Warren County releases Phase 2 Proclamation in COVID-19 crisis

Proclamation in full:

SECOND EMERGENCY ORDER TO CONTROL OR RESTRICT EGRESS, INGRESS, AND MOVEMENT WITHIN THE COUNTY DUE TO THE SPREAD OF THE CORONA VIRUS (COVID -19) AND IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELFARE

WHEREAS, pursuant to § 33-15-17 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended, entitled Emergency Management Local Organization, authorizes the Board of Supervisors of the County to enter such resolutions and orders as may be reasonable and necessary to control or restrict egress, ingress and movement within Warren County during an emergency to the degree necessary to facilitate the protection of life and property; and

WHEREAS, the President of the United States and the Governor of Mississippi have declared a state of emergency because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; and

WHEREAS, the City of Vicksburg and Warren County passed a Joint Declaration of State of Emergency in Vicksburg Warren County on March 16, 2020; and

WHEREAS, COVID-19 has spread across this nation and is a worldwide pandemic resulting in 1177 positive confirmed cases and 26 deaths in Mississippi as reported by the Mississippi Department of Health as of April 1, 2020; and

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Department of Health and the CDC have advised all citizens to practice social distancing by staying at least 6 feet apart from one another; and

WHEREAS, the President of the United States, the CDC, the Governor of Mississippi and the Mississippi Health Department have recommended that gatherings of more than 10 people be avoided; and

WHEREAS, extraordinary measures related to the spread of the COVID-19 are necessary for the health, safety, welfare and good order to protect the public; and

WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Mississippi has issued Executive Order 1463, dated March 24, 2020, and Executive Order 1466, dated April 1, 2020, which Executive Orders institute temporary “shelter in place” measures while also identifying certain permissible activities that are allowed to continue as essential services or functions.

NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN THIS BOARD PURSUANT TO §33-15-17 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT LOCAL ORGANIZATION, HEREBY ISSUES THIS SECOND RESOLUTION AND ORDER THAT AN EMERGENCY EXISTS IN WARREN COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI DUE TO THE SPREAD OF THE CORONA VIRUS (COVID-19) AND IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELFARE, DO HEREBY ORDER THAT FROM 5:00 P.M. APRIL 3, 2020, UNTIL NOON ON APRIL 20, 2020, UNLESS FURTHER EXTENDED, AS FOLLOWS:

1. Most places that have public assembly such as funeral homes, theaters, churches, places of entertainment, and other places where the public gathers from time to time have already adopted policies of closing, or are already limiting the number of persons allowed inside at the same time. Regardless, there should not be gatherings of more than 10 people at an event. None of the abovementioned places shall allow gatherings of more than 10 people for as long as this resolution and order is in effect.
2. Bars, nightclubs, lounges, and taverns shall close for the duration of this resolution and order.
3. Restaurants shall close dine-in services, but may provide food for pick-up, curbside service, delivery, or drive-through services to the extent allowed by law. There shall not be more than 10 employees and customers on the premises of the abovementioned businesses at any one time. These establishments must close all pick-up, curbside service, delivery, or drive-through services by 11:00 p.m. and remain closed until 5:00 a.m.
4. Retail and convenience stores shall allow no more than 10 persons inside the store and no more than 10 persons on the parking lot/gas service areas of the premises at any one time.
5. The County operated Clear Creek Golf Course shall be closed for the duration of this resolution and order.
6. The County operated Public Library shall be closed for the duration of this resolution and order.
7. The public bathroom facilities at County public facilities, including without limitation, public boat ramps shall be locked for the duration of this resolution and order. Warren County public boat ramp facilities to lakes of Warren County shall be closed to the public with the exception that essential businesses, such as commercial fishermen, may have access in order to continue essential operations consistent with the above referenced Executive Orders of the Governor of the State of Mississippi.
8. The Warren County Courthouse, and offices located therein, shall remain open for business. The Warren County Courthouse building, however, shall be locked, and access to the public shall be limited to essential business reasonably necessary to be conducted and shall be conducted only by appointment made with the particular office with which any person has essential business reasonably necessary to conduct. A drop box may be placed at one of the entrances to the courthouse in order to facilitate delivery of documents to the offices located therein. Signs shall be placed, or remain in place, advising the public of the phone numbers of the offices with which the public may have business to conduct so that appointments may be made telephonically.
9. All other County facilities and offices, including without limitation, the offices of the Board of Supervisors, shall continue to operate and conduct its essential functions, subject, however, to the building doors being locked and access to the public being limited to those who are granted permissive access by appointment only.
10. The measures detailed in this Resolution and Order of Warren County apply only to the specific businesses listed herein which are outside the Vicksburg City limits, and are applicable so long as this resolution and order is in effect.
11. To the extent not specifically addressed herein, this Resolution and Order also adopts and incorporates by reference the above mentioned Executive Orders 1463 and 1466 of the Governor of the State of Mississippi, as to such activities and business operations and functions occurring within Warren County, Mississippi, but outside the Vicksburg City limits.
12. Violations of this Resolution and Order are subject to the provisions of Miss. Code Ann. Sections 33-15-37, 33-15- 39, 33-15-41, and 33-15-43.

THIS PROCLAMATION SHALL BE IN EFFECT BEGINNING 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 3, 2020, AND CONTINUE TO NOON APRIL 20, 2020, UNLESS EXTENDED BY FURTHER ORDER OF THIS BOARD.

THIS THE 2nd DAY OF APRIL 2020.