On March 31, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued Executive Order GA-14, which requires Texas citizens to stay home, and closes businesses except for“essential services” until at least April 30. The Executive Order adopts the federal guidelines created by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and theCybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in the updatedCoronavirus Guidance for America on March 28, 2020 in its definition of essential services, as follows:
The advisory identifies workers who conduct a range of operations and services that are typically essential to continued critical infrastructure viability, including staffing operation scenters, maintaining and repairing critical infrastructure, operating callcenters, working construction, and performing operational functions, among others. It also includes workers who support crucial supply chains and enable functions for critical infrastructure. The industries they support represent,but are not limited to, medical and construction.
The guidelines specifically identify construction as essential to many industries and sectors of the economy.
Governor Abbott’s order establishes state-wideuniformity by trumping all city and county municipal orders and laws. The Order requires all companies, including construction companies, to implement increased hygiene and social distancing as recommended by the CDC and require soffice staff to work from home where possible.
The full text of the order can be found here: https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/press/EO-GA-14_Statewide_Essential_Service_and_Activity_COVID-19_IMAGE_03-31-2020.pdf
The DHS/CISA Guidance can be found here: https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/CISA_Guidance_on_the_Essential_Critical_Infrastructure_Workforce_Version_2.0_Updated.pdf