The City of Winnsboro facilities will continue to be open for scheduled events. The City is in on-going communication with the sponsors of these events and will assist the sponsors in notifying the public of any cancellations of the events. At this time the Chamber Gun Show scheduled for March 13th & 14th has been cancelled, the Hooves and Halos Playday scheduled for March 26th has been cancelled and the Friends of the NRA banquet scheduled for March 21, has been moved to June 06, 2020. Additionally, the Winnsboro Museum is closed until April 03, 2020.
In response to the virus, we encourage the public to come by City offices only when absolutely necessary and to please attempt to take care of business online, by telephone or email until this challenging time passes. This request serves to protect both you and our City employees.
The health and safety of our citizens, officials and employees is our top priority. We will work to do all we can to prevent the possible transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Everyone must be willing to follow the guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control and the Texas Department of State Health Services during this time. Here are a few of the most important safeguards we must adhere to:
-If you are experiencing fever, fatigue, cough or shortness of breath, DO NOT go to work. Please self-check daily before going to work. Signs and symptoms of COVID-19 may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure. The severity of symptoms can range from very mild to severe. This is similar to what is seen with other respiratory illnesses, such as influenza.
-Use proper cleaning techniques. Take personal responsibility to clean and disinfect frequently using a regular disinfecting household cleaning spray or wipe.
-Practice safe hand hygiene. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
-Practice everyday prevention. Avoid close contact in large gathering if possible. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Avoid sharing dishes, glasses, bedding and other household items if you are sick.
Social distancing is a concept where one attempts to remain two meters, or about six feet, away from others. This is one way to reduce the possibility of transmission of the virus by sick persons. If you or a family member is sick, stay home and limit contact with others.
As all of you are aware, items such as cleaning supplies, hand sanitizers, toilet tissue, etc. are flying off the shelves before most of us can acquire them. Even our county’s suppliers are experiencing a temporary delay in resupplying retailers. They anticipate this to be remedied soon, but until then please use common sense and compassion for others when shopping.
While a challenging situation, we will get through it with positive attitudes and healthy practices. We must be smart, proactive and utilize good common sense. We are in this together and we will make it through it stronger. City employees are here to assist the citizens in any way we can.
The City is in constant communication with the Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) regarding the status of the virus in our immediate area. In the event that NET Health advises the city to close the use of city facilities for any events, the city will take immediate action to do so for the period prescribed by NET Health. These announcements will be made on the City Website and Facebook pages. We will continue to evaluate the level of services and facilities that currently remain open to the public and will update this information should further action be necessary. The City will notify the public of events that have been tentatively rescheduled once those dates have been confirmed. The City will continue to hold public meetings related to City Council and City Board functions. The City is asking residents who are experiencing symptoms such as fever or cough or who have traveled to affected areas to refrain from physically attending these meetings. In an effort to protect their fellow citizens. Council meetings are recorded and placed on the website as soon as possible following a meeting.
The City of Winnsboro and NET Health will continue to monitor the situation and will notify residents and visitors of any extension of these suspensions and/or facility closures.