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New Hidalgo County curfew to go into effect immediately

After announcing a mandate to limit mass gatherings and implement a new county wide curfew during a Wednesday press conference, Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez signed the order Thursday, making it go into effect immediately.

As part of the order, the new curfew is set for 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. for those age 17 and under. Those age 18 and above must stay home between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Mass gatherings are now limited to no more than 10 persons to slow the spread of COVID-19, according to a news release from the county.

The order goes into effect immediately and will remain effective until modified.

“Our rise in numbers have been concerning, and action has to be taken to do our best in slowing this virus,” Cortez stated in the news release. “It appears that despite the rise in infections, that residents have not taken proper precautions in protecting their friends and family from this disease.”

The revised order was signed by Judge Cortez after Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday a halt to any further opening of businesses statewide because of the increased numbers of infections.

The order includes the directive that County businesses mandate the use of facial coverings by all employees and customers; and highly recommends that any person over the age of three in Hidalgo County wear a facial covering.

Residents are also strongly encouraged to continue staying at home unless engaged in essential services and apply physical distancing of six feet or more when out in public to slow the spread of the virus.

“I am asking that you all stand united in safeguarding each other and think of the domino effect of this virus,” said Judge Cortez. “You are all part of the solution.”

21 Comments

  1. Johanna on June 26, 2020 at 4:55 pm

    It’s about time if people don’t comply on there own someone has to in force them to fallow rules what is the big deal about wearing a face mask and keeping u distance I do have been and will till I get the ok it’s ok not to I care about my life and health and the people around me.

  2. Minerva Contreras on June 26, 2020 at 7:03 pm

    People don’t listen until it’s happens to one of there own than they start complaining

  3. Omar on June 26, 2020 at 7:22 pm

    I think the curfew is pretty useless at that time most of everybody is at home or in bed plus I haven’t seen any reports of the virus being nocturnal.What they should look into is how people are being corralled like cattle when going into Walmart .Almost everybody goes to Walmart why not open the other entrances to have people spread out and less chance of getting the virus.Most of all the mandatory things they say are just words I haven’t seen anything being inforced and it really affects our community when someone just puts a bunch of words and doesn’t enforce them so it is up to everyone to safeguard their family because no one else is going to do it.

    • Irma Pena on June 27, 2020 at 11:49 am

      I think crew is a waste of time because people has to go to bed .It’s the day time that we have to be concerned on. I hope that there’s a MUST STAY HOME again except for those who work

      • Irma Pena on June 27, 2020 at 11:54 am

        Sorry curfew

  4. Veronica Gonzalez on June 26, 2020 at 11:56 pm

    Well, I have gone to Nuevo Laredo Mexico and let me tell you that they are way to strict about all this safety rules. Every single shopping stores, restaurants and hotels they all check your temperature they make you wipe your shoes in a disinfected fluid, dry your shoes and get some hand sanitizer and of course ware a face mask before walking in. In any of the stores, restaurants and hotels. I think that is a great and safe idea and we in the USA should implement that same rules

    • Ruby Serna on June 27, 2020 at 7:13 am

      I agree 100% with u but as long as there’s a president that is ignorant people are not going to listen and safety is a waste of money to them. So let’s just hope and pray for a miracle.

  5. Tommie on June 26, 2020 at 11:58 pm

    We should all be in lock down the way it was at the beginning to try to control this the curfew is useless because they still have the hours from 6am to 10pm where everybody gathers and this thing about being able to gather for events and parties of no more than ten is ridicules because all you need is 1 person to come in contact with the virus and join the party to spread it further on and as for people I have seen in HEB and Walmart that cover there mouth only the virus travels through the respiratory system this means ur nose to so please cover both for your own good and everybody else around you its useless to wear it when you only cover your mouth

  6. Johnny on June 27, 2020 at 3:48 am

    People need to understand and take thinks seriously. As for the stores they need to get monitored by local municipalities, where are those health officials and code enforcement? What roll are they playing? please someone, write an article on how exactly are city officials in all valley cities involved.

    We just same old articles of the county and what they are implementing, all starts with the local cities get out of the office and get onboard with the program, start enforcing!

    • Ruby Serna on June 27, 2020 at 7:15 am

      So true they can say anything they want till they are black and blue to the face and people won’t listen if they don’t enforce it

  7. Maria Estella Garcia on June 27, 2020 at 5:08 am

    People are not taking this virus seriously I’ve seen masks thrown on streets and gloves too. Curfew should earlier than 10 pm because people already home.

  8. C Cano on June 27, 2020 at 7:13 am

    No olviden lavarse las manos y el distanciamento. 6 ft. No es un juego nadie es inmune vamos a parar esto ayudandonos a cuidarnos. Si se puede amemonos.

  9. Maria gonzales on June 27, 2020 at 7:51 am

    People are still not going to listen.the curfew is to close down businesses early and what about the people that need to work.Before stores and bars and restaurants were allowed to stay open late .employees were allowed to work their hours. Alot of unemployed people. Unemployment benefits are running out. They cant make up their mind of stimulus checks they are taking all their time in the world and bills just coming they dont care about that.

  10. Riatonon on June 27, 2020 at 8:13 am

    It’s the speedy check outs in HEB and Walmart they never disinfect them after someone uses it and nobody is wearing masks. Also the family gathering parties they get confident and don’t wear masks because it’s family and friends. Curfews and closing business early or lessening capacity isn’t going to do anything but just hide the people who are already infected. Businesses just need to be more cleaner and emphasize masks and distances more often. Why is the Bingo open and not the Churches? God is definitely more important and says Be careful not to forget the Lord your God after you become bountiful…

  11. Irene Hernandez on June 27, 2020 at 11:08 am

    I am totally for lockdown and shut down all bars and gyms ..its to make us safer.everyone needs to stay home

  12. Robert cava on June 27, 2020 at 11:45 am

    Okay does any one leaving a comment know of a close friend or family member with this virus and what was the outcome. So if the government says its not safe to go out shouldn’t we question them. People need to live and curfew and lockdown is not living. We are giving to much power to our local leaders and government. If this continues people will be dying of hunger, depression, and domestic violence. I don’t believe in the curfew and stores should not close so we can have more option to do our shopping and not all gather in Walmart where there is more risk. Open your eyes and ears think for yourselves before they do your thinking for you. Stay safe

  13. Leonides Hernandez on June 27, 2020 at 11:46 am

    What they should enforce is social distance and face mask….
    Until the virus has been contained and no longer a threet…..
    Closing buissness is rediculus how are we’re supposed to survive pay bills ect….
    Close down bars which is the only one that is supposed to be closed all people do is go drink don’t bring any good….
    But everything els like barber shops beauty salon oilfields ect should continue on buissness that brings the economy going and we able to support our family…..
    The stimulus check is rediculus yes they sent the first one but that is it they are thinking of sending a 2 check but still undecided and if they do it will take a long time before you get it and mean while bills keep coming ect….
    They should keep the jobs open to keep economy going but of course everything with saftey measures..

  14. Tessa on July 19, 2020 at 1:45 pm

    It appears here on July 19, that a curfew and mandatory face masks have not been effective, Hidalgo County has more infections than ever. So will the government mandate we sit in our homes 24/7 now.

    • D navarro on July 21, 2020 at 7:14 am

      You need to open your eyes read monitor look at the daily deaths you sound ignorant and selfish

  15. D navarro on July 21, 2020 at 7:17 am

    Its the ignorant and those that dont listen kinda like you thats making this pandemic out of control

  16. JESUS JOSOL on August 23, 2020 at 2:43 am

    lots of kids are now acting like there is no pandemic, like playing football, basketball with no masks and in big groups,
    you know who you are .I could be too careful or just against people who are indifferent and just dont really have any clue how deadly COVID 19 is .
    As i read the comments above I noticed that a lot of us just want to lead back to the way it used to be. I get that, the pandemic affected our livelihood, relationships, and family dynamics.

    but, let us reflect a little bit on its DEVASTATING EFFECT. The families that are directly affected by the disease would definitely want the efforts of the government in the early stages of the pandemic.
    Its unfortunate we lost GREAT FRIENDS, CLOSE RELATIVES , AND FAMILY MEMBERS
    It can get worse and You might be the victim, get ready cause YOU have not seen anything like this DISEASE/VIRUS.

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