Ralls County Health Department Ordinance Signed by Commissioners

On Thursday, April 9th, Tanya Taylor, Director of the Ralls County Health Department and Eddie Joe Hamill, Chairman of the Ralls County Health Department Board, met with the Ralls County Commissioners during their regular meeting. Also, in attendance were Ralls County Sheriff Gerry Dinwiddie, Chief Deputy Ronald Haught, Ralls County Emergency Management Director Eric Murfin, Ralls County Prosecuting Attorney Rodney Rodenbaugh, and Ralls County Clerk Sandy Lanier.

Taylor opened her discussion with the Commissioners with the latest statistics on the Covid-19 virus in Ralls County. There has still only been one positive test in Ralls County. Several residents have been tested, but all others have come back negative. Positive tests and deaths, as well as recoveries, continue to climb statewide.

Taylor then handed out copies of a Ralls County Stay At Home Ordinance that the Health Department is requesting that the Commissioners sign off on. That ordinance states that residents shall stay at home unless going out for medical care, groceries, medications, or to work. And when engaging in indoor/outdoor activity, individuals must comply with the physical distancing requirements - which are no more than 10 people in a group and maintain a 6-feet distance. The Ordinance includes penalties for violations of the order. Violation of or failure to comply with this Order is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one-year in jail, up to a $1000 fine, or both such jail time and fine.

After much discussion, the Commissioners made and passed a motion to sign the Ordinance. This order shall be effective 12:01 a.m. on April 10, 2020 and will continue to be in effect until 11.59 p.m. on April 30, 2020 or until it is extended, rescinded, superseded or amended in writing by further order.

The Ordinance can be viewed on the Health Department’s webpage https://www.rallscountyhealth.org/covid---19.html.