Reynolds County tells non-residents don’t visit, don’t pass through

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Reynolds County commissioners extended Gov. Mike Parson’s stay-at-home order through May 11 and closed the county to non-residents starting Tuesday in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Reynolds County has implemented this Order to try to decrease the number of county visitors during this time of Stay at Home,” writes Frances Vermillion, administrator of the Reynolds County Health Center, in a letter to residents. “We are seeing many out-of-town and out-of-state visitors, possibly due to working remotely, or experiencing a layoff or furlough. We have seen many out-of-state plates this past weekend with the Youth Turkey hunt.”

Reynolds County reported its first case of COVID-19 on March 30 and currently has two positive tests.

“By enacting this Order, it is the express intent that the maximum number of people stay at home to slow the spread of COVID-19 within Reynolds County,” the order states.

The Reynolds County Commission and Vermillion, the county health officer, met at 8 a.m. Monday to discuss Parson’s stay-at-home order, which started that day for all of the state and runs through April 24.

Reynolds County’s order extends it 17 days through 12:01 a.m. May 11.

Violating or failure to comply with the order is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a one-year jail term, up to a $1,000 fine or both.

Non-residents of Reynolds County are “hereby ordered to not enter, travel through or stay in” the county, the order states. Non-residents may travel through or stay in the county only for essential activities, governmental functions or to operate essential businesses and operations.

Exemptions include first responders, health care employees, workers maintaining digital systems infrastructure, court personnel and individuals “designated by the applicable governing authority (who) are necessary in the performance of essential government functions.”

Business owners that live outside the county may travel to the business to work but would be required to return home after completing their tasks, Vermillion writes.

All businesses in the county, except “essential businesses and operations” are required to stop all activities except “minimum basic operations.” Restaurants and retail food businesses may only conduct drive-thru or delivery services. Schools and social services providing food may continue to do so under the order.

Residents are ordered to stay at home or their place of residence unless they are purchasing food, medicine or seeking medical treatment. When doing so, the order states, individuals must adhere to the social distancing requirements.

If a residence is “unsafe or becomes unsafe, such as victims of domestic violence, are permitted and urged to leave their home and stay in a safe alternative location,” the order states.

All public and private gatherings of “any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit are prohibited.” Public parks and open outdoor recreation areas are encouraged to remain open but playgrounds will be closed.

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