Thread by @Joeycules

THREAD: The City of San Antonio and Bexar County's Townhall is starting now. I'll live tweet in this thread what's said. @TPRNews.

You can view it for yourself at SanAntonio.Gov/TVSA

The folks who are answering your questions are:
Liz Provencio, City of San Antonio Deputy City Attorney
Larry L. Roberson of the Bexar County Criminal District Attorney’s Office
and Bexar County DA Joe Gonzales

Provencio and DA Gonzales both say that people are expected to follow the order to Stay At Home but there won’t be law enforcement actively seeking people who are not observing the order.

Question: Can Adult Day Cares still operate?

Roberson says Adult Day Cares should still be able to operate.

Question: Call centers for financial centers?

Provencio: Yes, can stay open. She adds most call centers can stay open but they have to maintain social distance protocol.

Question: Churches and places of worship.

Gonzales says they can still operate but only using video conferencing.

Question: Home based baby sitting

Provencio: Allowed.

Question: Bike shops and bike repair shops

Provencio: Allowed to stay open.

Question: Photography businesses?

Provencio: As along as they can be run at home.

Question: Pet related businesses like boarding.

Roberson: It counts as a businesses that support residences so it can stay open.

Question: Car rental companies?

Roberson: Yes. Anything that facilitates transportation can operate.

Question: Law offices?

Provencio: Yes, but only if you can maintain your office from home. Meeting mandates to clients is allowed.

Legal services that support exempted businesses will be allowed to do so.

Question: Rideshare and delivery services?

Roberson: Uber and Lyft and services like Uber Eats will still be allowed to operate

Question: Realtor who wants to show properties.

Provencio: Yes but with the expectation that the realtor is working at home and can maintain the proper social distancing when showing a home.

Question: Farmers Markets?

Roberson: Yes. Because they provide food but social distancing must be observed.

Question: Landscaping?

Gonzales: Yes. Falls under home services

Question Hair Salons?

All: No. Cannot operate. But Gonzales says animal grooming can stay open.

Jeff Coyle adds nail salons, massage parlors, and similar businesses must close.

Question: Smoke shops, vaping etc

Gonzales: Not allowed to open. He adds people should consider avoiding things that will damage their lungs.

Question: Moving companies and tow trucks?

Provencio: Yes. Falls under transportation.

Question: Golf Courses?

Provencio: Yes. As long as proper social distancing is maintained.

Question: Aircraft manufacturing?

Roberson: Yes

Question: Book stores

Provencio: No. But they can offer orders over the phone and a way to pick them up.

Questions: Liquor Stores?

Allowed.

Question: Car dealerships?

Allowed.

Question: Flower shop?

Provencio: To the extent they're supporting and essential service like funerals. But they cannot offer retail operations.

Question: Car mechanics?

Allowed to operate.

I missed a couple. Had to fire off some other tweets.

Restaurants can't have dine-in service but can still offer drive-thru, delivery, and take-out.

Question: Difference between shelter in place and stay at home orders?

Provencio: They're substantially similar. You'll find same categories of businesses exempted from closing.

Question: Can I drive around without a destination to keep from going stir-crazy?

Roberson: Yes. If you need to for the sake of your mental health.

But staying at home as much as possible is encouraged.

Question: What if someone is living in a hotel?

Roberson: Hotels are considered residential.

Question: Evictions are halted but I've lost my job. What happens after the eviction freeze is lifted?

Roberson: The process is paused but when it's over the eviction process will continue but people will receive the necessary notices in the eviction process.

Landlords will still be expected to follow all of the eviction laws after the pause on evictions has ended.

The live stream just froze for me. Trying to get reconnected.

Question: Can people travel in and our of the city?

Yes.

Question: Stores that provide African-American hair care?

Provencio: If its a salon, No.

But if it's providing products for sale, it can do so over the phone while closed to the public.

Question: What COVID-19 Resources are available eor people who don't have internet?

Coyle: The metro health COVID-19 hotline is open. 207-5779

Question: Can people go fishing?

Gonzales: Yes. People can go fishing.

Question: Apartment leasing offices?

Provencio: Yes. As long a social distancing measures are observed.

Question: Elective or cosmetic surgical procedures?

No. Under the states order they cannot be done.

Question: What kind of punishments are there for not observing the orders?

Provencio: A fine could be imposed if they do not come into compliance.

Gonzales: Law enforcement will give people the benefit of the doubt. We are in uncharted territory. (cont)

Gonzales adds the county doesn't need to fill the jail with people who are not complying with our orders.

Question: Can people still congregate at city and county parks?

Gonzales: Avoid a situation where you have person-to-person contact like games of basketball.

Question: What about property taxes? Will they still be collected along the same timeline?

Roberson: At this time we don't have an answer to that.

Question: What kinds of things are closed?

Provencio: Generally personal care businesses.

Gonzales: Retail, specialty clothing. "The things you can do without for a couple of months."

Question: Telecom and cable technicians, Can they still go to homes?

Yes.

Question: Architectural firms?

Roberson: Yes. They support construction.

Question: What city and county services are still running?

Coyle: City services like trash pickup will continue. But libraries are closed. The city is focuses on essential services.

Question: Pool supplies?

Roberson: Cleaning your pool is part of that residential exemption.

Question: Can I foster a pet?

Yes. Animal Care Services will still be operating.

Question: Laundrymats?

Yes.

Question: Do I need a permit or letter of exemption to go to work?

No.

Question: Medical Billing?

Permissible to operate

Question: I go to my daughter's for dinner. Can I continue doing that?

Gonzales: Yes as long as its a small group. We're trying to avoid big gatherings like back yard BBQ.

Questions: Can I visit parents in a nursing home?

Roberson: No. Nursing homes are definitely out.

Question: Can I still provide AirBnB service in my home?

Gonzales: Yes. As long as your practicing social distancing.

Question: Door to Door sales?

No. The risk of contact and spread is too great.

Question: Airport?

Open.

Question: Should we wear masks?

Gonzales: I don't think its necessary unless you're sick.

Question: Is there a curfew in order?

Gonzales: No. This is not a curfew. This is encouraging people to stay home and work safely.

Question (rapid fire): Dog walking, AA meetings, and Dental offices?

Yes. Yes. and elective procedures must be postponed.

That's it! They're done. I hope this answered some of your questions.