Cleburne Mayor Scott Cain issued a declaration of local disaster in response to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Mayor Cain ordered the declaration at an emergency meeting with City Council on March, 13. The City Council voted to have the declaration in effect through 11:59 p.m. on March 29, 2020, along with temporary closures and regulations.
“I want our community to know we are not panicking,” Mayor Scott Cain said. “We are being proactive to take care of those in Cleburne that would face the greatest impact to their health and maintaining a continuity of services that the community relies on.”
The City of Cleburne considers the community’s health and safety its top priority. While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the city or Johnson County, city leaders are being proactive to reduce the disease’s spread.
To reduce the impact of COVD-19 on the community, gatherings of more than 250 people will be prohibited while the disaster declaration is in effect beginning March 16.
The City is also temporarily closing the following facilities to the public starting on Monday, March 16: the Public Library, Booker T. Washington Recreation Center, the Layland and Railroad museums, the Senior Center, the Sports Complex, and the Grille at the Cleburne Links golf course.
The golf course and other public parks will still be accessible to the public.
Municipal Court Judge Michael Kurmes has ordered the Cleburne Municipal Court to cancel all jury trials scheduled until April 1, following the guidance of the State Office of Court Administration. All dockets within the next two weeks will be cancelled temporarily and rescheduled.
City leadership continues to communicate with partners and authorities to navigate this fluid situation. That includes regular communications with local hospitals, Texas Department of State Health Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), neighboring municipalities, Cleburne Independent School District, Johnson County, and the State of Texas.
For the facilities that remain open, city staff has already increased cleaning and sanitation procedures.
Plans are in place so the City can continue to operate its essential services throughout the pandemic. City staff will continue to communicate with the public as the situation changes. Residents are encouraged to visit Cleburne.net daily or follow one of the city’s official social media pages.
Community members are encouraged to follow the CDC’s tips for stopping the spread of germs. These include avoiding close contact with people who are sick, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, avoiding touching your face, clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, staying home when you are sick except to get medical care, and washing your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
Those who are sick and think they have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms such as a cough or difficulty breathing should call their healthcare provider or local hospital for medical advice, as recommended by the CDC.
