Payton changes disaster declaration

Mayor Patrick Payton speaks during the Unified Command Team daily briefing Monday, March 23, 2020 at the Midland County Annex building. Mayor Patrick Payton speaks during the Unified Command Team daily briefing Monday, March 23, 2020 at the Midland County Annex building. Photo: Mercedes Cordero Photo: Mercedes Cordero Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Payton changes disaster declaration 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Mayor Patrick Payton has changed the current disaster declaration that puts in place measures that mandates social distancing.

The declaration states businesses can allow the number of customers that is 10 percent of its occupancy based on square footage. For example, if a store like H-E-B has an occupancy of 2,000 then it would be allowed to have 200 customers at any one time. Employees would not factor into that number, Payton said at today’s city council meeting.

A motion to have the mayor take no action died for a lack of a second.