Reopening Waco
Please check with your city regarding specific rules.
Many requirements are county-wide, but some may have changed.
These requirements are for Waco only.
Face coverings and/or masks required for commercial businesses in Waco
For a business to be compliant in Waco:
- You must adopt a Health and Safety Policy as described in the order. At a minimum, the policy must require all employees and visitors to wear a face covering in your business when you cannot ensure sufficient social/physical distancing (6 feet between persons from different households).
- You must notify your employees and visitors of the policy by posting signage in a conspicuous location (for example, at the entrance to the business, in employee breakrooms, at job sites, and at points of sale). TEMPLATE SIGNS FOR PRINT BELOW.
- You must implement the policy by:
- Notifying your employees and visitors of the policy;
- Requiring your employees to wear a face covering while at work when maintaining sufficient physical distance from another person is impossible or unlikely; and
- Requiring visitors to wear a face covering when visiting your business or facilities.
Any concerns about enforcement (in Waco) can call (254) 750-5970.
About the order:
This supplement to the disaster declaration was made in response to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases within McLennan County.
-
- In a matter of seven days, the active COVID-19 case count has increased from 25 cases on 6/12/2020 to 118 on 6/19/2020.
- In addition recently, McLennan County had its sixth fatality attributed to COVID-19.
- It is important to issue this order now in order to have the greatest possible effect on reducing the spread of COVID-19 WITHOUT another shelter-in-place order, which none of us want.
Key measures of the order:
- Businesses are to comply by June 26th.
- All employees or visitors to the business or other facilities must wear face coverings when in an area or performing an activity which involves close contact or proximity to co-workers or the public where six feet of separation is not feasible.
- Face coverings may include homemade masks, scarfs, bandanas, or a handkerchief.
- Employees, visitors, and all residents of the City of Waco should continue physical distancing of at least six feet while outside your home.
- City employees are also required to wear face coverings under the same circumstances as the public.
- Encourage the public to work to protect our neighbors, friends, and family members by adhering to this order.
In order to reduce the continued increase in cases within McLennan County getting the COVID-19 virus, it is critical that ALL residents do their part by following these and other guidelines established by health authorities.
Face coverings do not need to be worn in the following circumstances:
- When exercising outside or engaging in physical activity outside.
- While driving alone or with passengers who are part of the same household as the driver.
- When doing so poses a greater mental or physical health, safety, or security risk.
- NOTE: For privacy reasons, people can voluntarily disclose their medical condition to the business and it would be at the discretion of the business as to whether they allow entry.
- While operating outdoor equipment or pumping gas.
- While in a building or participating in an activity that requires security surveillance, screening, or identification, for example, banks. When consuming food or drink.
Churches:
- Churches and places of worship are not considered commercial businesses, therefore this order does not apply to them. (Addressed in paragraph 3.)
- We do hope they will consider wearing face coverings as a best practice, however.
Questions? Concerns about safety?
Please call (254) 750-5970.
McLennan County questions about enforcement: (254) 757-5049.
Questions about testing, not feeling well and/or symptoms: (254) 750-1890.
Governor Abbott's Phased Approach to Reopening
Waco and McLennan County are following the phased approach set forth by the State of Texas.