El Paso Mayor Dee Margo, County Judge Ricardo Samaniego and Dr. Hector Ocaranza agonized over the historic 'stay home, work safe' order for days.

"This decision was not an easy one for me, for the judge, for any of us," Margo said. "We're dealing with lives versus livelihoods."

They joined other major Texas urban centers Tuesday, issuing the order telling El Pasoans to stay home to help curb the spread of coronavirus.

Margo said they debated the damage to the economy versus public health, but ultimately decided they needed to heed the advice of hospitals and physicians groups to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We cannot afford to wait until our hospitals are overwhelmed to take action," Margo said. "We cannot wait until we lose a life to take action."

The order is in place until further notice. Margo said as soon as health professionals are confident El Paso has suppressed the virus, the order will end. He said the city is about 10 days ahead of Austin and he's hopeful El Pasoans can go back to work soon.

The order excludes essential personnel, including emergency personnel, healthcare personnel, groceries, financial institutions, media, postal services, food delivery or pickup, restaurants for take-out only, home-based care, childcare and those performing essential government functions. Anyone who violates will be guilty of a misdemeanor and faces a fine of up to $1,000 or up to 180 days in jail.

Anyone working in those fields must abide by the social distancing requirements laid out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The order states public and private gatherings of more than 10 people occurring outside or inside a single household or dwelling unit are prohibited, except for the work that essential businesses are doing. It also states that nursing homes, retirement and long-term care facilities are to prohibit non-essential visitors from going into their businesses unless they need to provide "critical assistance," or "end of life" visitation.

"This is not martial law, this is not checkpoint charlie," Margo said. "We are simply trying to get ahead of this so we can get back to normal as fast as possible."

Anyone who violates the order will be guilty of a misdemeanor and faces a fine of up to $1,000 or up to 180 days in jail.

The city is using the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency's Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce Memorandum to define essential businesses.

Noncompliance can be reported by emailing COVIDCompliance@elpasotexas.gov. Margo said it could also be reported by dialing 311.

Exercising outside is still allowed, as long as people continue to practice social distancing. Parks will remain open, but indoor facilities such as health clubs and gyms will not.

More:Coronavirus pandemic: Brooklyn, New York, resident tells of life in state-ordered lockdown

People may travel for "essential activities," which includes seeking health and safety services, to purchase supplies, for outdoor activity with social distancing requirements, to work, to care for others and to seek safety from domestic violence.

Officials encouraged everyone to use common sense and to do their part to suppress the spread of the virus.

"The message here is to stay home and stay healthy," Ocaranza said.

Eleven COVID-19 cases in El Paso County, four in Fort Bliss

There are 11 confirmed COVID-19 cases in El Paso County as of Tuesday morning, Ocaranza said. Seven of those cases were tested at the City of El Paso Department of Public Health Laboratory and four involve El Paso residents tested elsewhere, said city spokeswoman Laura Cruz Acosta.

The 11 cases involve people who recently traveled internationally and domestically and family members who share living quarters with the initial cases.

There is no evidence of COVID-19 community spread in El Paso County at this time, Cruz Acosta said.

The county does not include Fort Bliss’ case numbers in its totals. The U.S. Army is reporting four COVID-19 cases at Fort Bliss, all involving Army reservists from New York who traveled to El Paso for training.

Ocaranza said, so far, El Paso is in good shape as far as caring for those sick with the virus, but the measures taken into effect through the stay at home order are to try and prevent a surge of cases that overwhelms local hospitals.

A week ago, the El Paso City Council extended an emergency declaration and closed bars, clubs and arcades.

More:El Paso coronavirus updates: Senior centers provide curbside meals, hospitals implement no-visitor policies

'Stay home, work safe' orders issued across Texas, New Mexico

El Paso’s order comes as there’s been a wave of similar directives in other Texas cities.

Dallas and San Antonio have issued stay at home or shelter in place orders after surges in COVID-19 cases. In those communities, bans on non-essential travel have been enacted but residents have also been allowed to grocery shop, visit pharmacies, gas stations and emergency rooms. They've also been allowed to leave the house for exercise.

Austin and Travis County also announced a shelter in place order Tuesday.

Restaurants have been able to continue providing take out and delivery services. Similar orders in other cities have also threatened fines or jail time for violating the order.

More:Here's what you can expect if a shelter-in-place order is issued

Las Cruces was part of a statewide stay at home order, which is effective Tuesday morning. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced tighter restrictions on public and private business through April 10.

El Paso leaders support stay home order

El Paso state Rep. Lina Ortega said she supported the order as a critical step to combating the coronavirus. She called on El Pasoans to stay home and take care of one another.

"El Paso now joins a long list of other cities, states and countries that have adopted such an order to keep our community safe," she said. "There is no need to panic, as essential businesses like grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations will remain open."

Gov. Greg Abbott has declined to issue a shelter at home order statewide. He has left that decision up to local authorities.

“The best thing to do when you’re faced with … an outbreak like this, is if there’s continuity,” said State Rep.César Blanco, D-El Paso. “I think it’s easier for local governments when there’s a statewide response and directive. But in the absence of that, I think that it would be prudent for local elected officials to take matters into their own hands”

House Democrats on Tuesday sent a letter to Abbott urging him to implement a statewide “stay-at-home” policy. Among the 65 lawmakers who signed were El Paso representatives Cesar Blanco Blanco, Art Fierro, Mary González, Joe Moody and Ortega.

Rodríguez, D-El Paso, also sent a letter to Abbott Tuesday urging him to issue a shelter-in-place order.

"I strongly support the executive orders issued last Thursday, but it is apparent that many are not heeding those orders, and further action is needed to help mitigate the effects of COVID-19 in our state," Rodríguez said in the letter.

Rodriguez said he knows it's a very difficult decision, especially given concerns for businesses, but that health must come first.

“I don’t minimize it one bit, but it’s a decision that needs to be made,” Rodríguez said.

Eleanor Dearman contributed to this report.

Aaron Montes may be reached at 915-546-6137; amontes@elpasotimes.com; @aaronmontes91 on Twitter.

What are some of the professions exempt from the order?

Emergency personnel

Healthcare personnel

Grocers

Plumbers

Electricians

Credit unions

Lenders

Title companies

Lenders

Exterminators

Charitable efforts

Laundry services

Construction

Oil

Moving companies

IT services

Financial institutions

Accounting

Real estate

Media

Postal services

Food delivery or pickup, restaurants for take-out only

Home-based care

Childcare and those performing essential government functions.

What can you do under a shelter in place order?

Shop for groceries.

Go for a walk, hike or do any exercise outside but not in a group and six feet away from others.

El Pasoans can go see the poppies in bloom, but must adhere to the restrictions of social distancing and no more than 10 people in a group.

Access banking services.

Visit the doctor, a veterinarian or go to an emergency room.

Care for someone who needs assistance.

Travel is allowed to get supplies, go to work or get away from a dangerous scenario

Pick up restaurant food

El Paso's 'stay home, work safe' order