I keep seeing this all over the regular media and social media. Below is the operative language from the different orders from Abbott over time. You can choose to ignore these (like many are doing) but anyone who says the "stay at home order expired" is flat out wrong. The April 17 order expired but the new April 28 order contains the exact same language. Other than the expanded definition of reopened businesses (which are limited to 25% capacity), the operative language regarding avoiding contact with those outside the "same household" remains unchanged since the March 31 order implemented more strict rules in place of the 10 person max rule.

GA-08 (March 19):

every person in Texas shall avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people.

GA-14 (March 31):

... every person in Texas shall, except where necessary to provide or obtain essential services, minimize social gatherings and minimize in-person contact with people who are not in the same household.

GA-16 (April 17):

... every person in Texas shall, except where necessary to provide or obtain essential services or reopened services, minimize social gatherings and minimize in-person contact with people who are not in the same household.

GA 18 (April 28):

every person in Texas shall, except where necessary to provide or obtain essential services or reopened services, minimize social gatherings and minimize in-person contact with people who are not in the same household. People over the age of 65, however, are strongly encouraged to stay at home as much as possible; to maintain appropriate distance from any member of the household who has been out of the residence in the previous 14 days; and, if leaving the home, to implement social distancing and to practice good hygiene, environmental cleanliness, and sanitation.

Am I missing something here?

Stay at home is and will always be a suggestion, not a requirement, which is why I don't really understand why it's an "order" to begin with.

Don't get me wrong, we haven't gone anywhere in 6 weeks outside of the grocery store, but I don't understand the language in these things anyways.

Governor's Latest Order

Quote:

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This executive order does not prohibit people from accessing essential or reopened services or engaging in essential daily activities, such as going to the grocery store or gas station, providing or obtaining other essential or reopened services, visiting parks, hunting or fishing, or engaging in physical activity like jogging, bicycling, or other outdoor sports,

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I would say that would end a "stay at home" order.

Quote:

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This executive order supersedes Executive Order GA-16, but does not supersede Executive Orders GA-b, GA-il, GA-l2, GA-13, GA-15, or GA-17. This executive order shall remain in effect and in full force until 11:59 p.m. on May 15, 2020, unless it is modified, amended, rescinded, or superseded by the governor.

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So we would need to review those orders that this notes are NOT superseded.

one thing that might help in reviewing these orders: "shall" typically has the force of law, "should" is a suggestion or recommendation and does not have the force of law.

There is no order by the governor to "stay at home", merely recommendations. You are right for a different reason since something that didn't actually exist can't be lifted. Any such orders that may actually exist are from local entities. We argue semantics when we are bored.

Dad-O-Lot said:

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Governor's Latest Order

Quote:

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This executive order does not prohibit people from accessing essential or reopened services or engaging in essential daily activities, such as going to the grocery store or gas station, providing or obtaining other essential or reopened services, visiting parks, hunting or fishing, or engaging in physical activity like jogging, bicycling, or other outdoor sports,

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I would say that would end a "stay at home" order.

Quote:

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This executive order supersedes Executive Order GA-16, but does not supersede Executive Orders GA-b, GA-il, GA-l2, GA-13, GA-15, or GA-17. This executive order shall remain in effect and in full force until 11:59 p.m. on May 15, 2020, unless it is modified, amended, rescinded, or superseded by the governor.

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So we would need to review those orders that this notes are NOT superseded.

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I believe the prior order had similar language.

Gizzards said:

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There is no order by the governor to "stay at home", merely recommendations. You are right for a different reason since something that didn't actually exist can't be lifted. Any such orders that may actually exist are from local entities. We argue semantics when we are bored.

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We can quibble about semantics but whatever you want to call the prior orders, the operative language is still the same. The only difference is Abbott expanded the definition of "reopened" businesses to include retail, restaurants, etc.

To me the real ambiguity here is what it means to "minimize" social gatherings and in-person contact. But whatever it means, it hasn't changed.

We're in Atlanta - this morning we had to go to Enterprise to renew our car rental for another month. We were there when they opened. Staff wore no masks, gloves and didn't practice social distancing with customers. Completely irresponsible and lack of consideration for their customers.

The states are putting lots of requirements on businesses. My guess is they'll be followed for a week or two and then they'll stop. Who and how are they going to be policed? Won't happen. That's why my wife will continue to stay close to home unless absolutely necessary.

I went out to eat last night and it was plainly obvious how stupid it was to shut down restaurants in the first place.

Wait. You just drive a rent car all the time?

We're missionaries in Zambia. We were evacuated beck to the states in mid-March. No idea how long before we can return home. Starting to consider our options. We'll probably be looking for a used car soon as the virus looks to be taking off back there.

If it is that concerning, you could have left and gone to a different business and rented a car.

That is the beauty of the entire system.

We were wearing masks and adhering to the recommended guidelines. And the car was paid for in advance through Priceline. My point is just because the idiot governor of Georgia (you know, the one who said he didn't know asymptomatic folks could spread the virus several weeks after it had been all over the news) opens things up telling businesses to follow certain guidelines, they may or may not and there's little that can be done to police the situation.

Here's a current curve that shows an uptick in cases. Is it just a blip? We'll see. I wouldn't order those football tickets just yet.
Georgia

BClark said:

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every person in Texas shall, except where necessary to provide or obtain essential services or reopened services, minimize social gatherings and minimize in-person contact with people who are not in the same household. People over the age of 65, however, are strongly encouraged to stay at home as much as possible; to maintain appropriate distance from any member of the household who has been out of the residence in the previous 14 days; and, if leaving the home, to implement social distancing and to practice good hygiene, environmental cleanliness, and sanitation.

Am I missing something here?

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Yes, you're missing the bolded part above.

LantanaAg said:

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Stay at home is and will always be a suggestion, not a requirement, which is why I don't really understand why it's an "order" to begin with.

Don't get me wrong, we haven't gone anywhere in 6 weeks outside of the grocery store, but I don't understand the language in these things anyways.

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In Texas it is.....others places not so much

You are ordered to stay at home unless you want to leave your home for any reason.

GE said:

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BClark said:

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every person in Texas shall, except where necessary to provide or obtain essential services or reopened services, minimize social gatherings and minimize in-person contact with people who are not in the same household. People over the age of 65, however, are strongly encouraged to stay at home as much as possible; to maintain appropriate distance from any member of the household who has been out of the residence in the previous 14 days; and, if leaving the home, to implement social distancing and to practice good hygiene, environmental cleanliness, and sanitation.

Am I missing something here?

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Yes, you're missing the bolded part above.

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Wrong, that same language was in the prior order that people considered a "stay at home" order. Again, the only change is the expansion of what is considered a "reopened business." People still shouldn't be gathering socially at all, ie not going to one another's homes, at least according to the order.

Minimize social gatherings =\= no social gatherings

So technically neither order *forbade* Social gatherings in general?

BClark said:

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GE said:

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BClark said:

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every person in Texas shall, except where necessary to provide or obtain essential services or reopened services, minimize social gatherings and minimize in-person contact with people who are not in the same household. People over the age of 65, however, are strongly encouraged to stay at home as much as possible; to maintain appropriate distance from any member of the household who has been out of the residence in the previous 14 days; and, if leaving the home, to implement social distancing and to practice good hygiene, environmental cleanliness, and sanitation.

Am I missing something here?

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Yes, you're missing the bolded part above.

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Wrong, that same language was in the prior order that people considered a "stay at home" order. Again, the only change is the expansion of what is considered a "reopened business." People still shouldn't be gathering socially at all, ie not going to one another's homes, at least according to the order.

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You don't need the governor's permission to visit a friend or family member. He has no authority to tell you if you can or not.

TexasAggie008 said:

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Minimize social gatherings =\= no social gatherings

So technically neither order *forbade* Social gatherings in general?

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You can interpret it how you wish. But my point is that it hasn't changed.

Wow. I just found this thread, and I'm appalled at how ill-informed I am.

I consider myself to be a (relatively) intelligent and informed Texan, but this whole thing is making me wonder. I was reading the governor's guidelines for re-opening the economy and didn't see anything about restrictions on social gatherings. I also watch the (local and national) news at least 3-4 times per week. I was actively trying to figure out what the actual requirements were, and I couldn't find anything. I even posted a thread on the Aggieland board and no one could answer.

The main point of this post is this: if I couldn't figure out what I'm allowed to do or not when actively looking, what's going on with all the people (probably most of them) that pay less attention to the news? Am I just doing a bad job of staying informed or has there been a major failure in communication on the part of the state and the media? I'm honestly surprised at how ill-informed I am!

Don't be too hard on yourself. The media has done a terrible job describing the new order. And frankly Abbott made things sound much more wide open in his press conference than they actually are. I suspect that may have been intentional for PR purposes.

BClark said:

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TexasAggie008 said:

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Minimize social gatherings =\= no social gatherings

So technically neither order *forbade* Social gatherings in general?

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You can interpret it how you wish. But my point is that it hasn't changed.

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actually there was language that said outdoor sports can resume as long as the max number of participants is 4 and social distancing is observed (golf for example). If people are back to playing golf in a 4 some in separate carts or walking, that's a pretty social sport.

The governor isn't going to come out and say, "yeah, everyone get together for beers now". I think though if people are smart about it, you can meet in smaller numbers and practice social distancing.

I think the State of Texas has mostly punted on the actual restrictions, which have moreso been enacted and enforced at the County level. It was part of the strategy early on for Texas to allow localities to have restrictions based on the realities on the ground in their county.

HotardAg07 said:

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I think the State of Texas has mostly punted on the actual restrictions, which have moreso been enacted and enforced at the County level. It was part of the strategy early on for Texas to allow localities to have restrictions based on the realities on the ground in their county.

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Which sounds good to me. As Abbott said, state wide mandates don't make a lot of sense for a large state made up of of a huge variety of 254 counties.

Yea, it makes sense, I'm just explaining why the language on the guidance of the shutdown hasn't materially changed in some ways over time.