Collin County Judge Chris Hill has taken back his March 24 order declaring all businesses essential, hours after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott strictly defined such services statewide in a strategy many counties and cities had already adopted to slow the virus spread.

“I hereby rescind my Second Executive Order,” Hill said in a new order issued Tuesday. He could not be reached immediately for comment.

Hill’s March 24 order was criticized for not specifying what businesses qualified as essential, leaving it up to individual business owners, employees and customers to manage their social distancing.

“We really expect grown-ups to figure that out for themselves,” Hill said at Monday’s Collin County Commissioners Court meeting. “Every family in this county knows there’s a difference between going to a hardware store to get essential things they need in their life and leisure shopping.”

McKinney Mayor George Fuller said Tuesday evening that he "couldn’t be happier” about the governor’s action.

“He has taken away what has been an inability to have a regional approach,” Fuller said Tuesday evening. “That is great for the state of Texas and all communities in the state."

Collin County Judge Chris Hill (left) and McKinney Mayor George Fuller

The governor, while stopping short of calling his action a “stay at home order,” also ordered schools across the state closed until May 4 and extended temporary closure of gyms, bars and restaurant dining areas, ordering all Texans to adhere to “social distancing” through April 30.

The governor’s definition of “essential services” — including jobs in health care, energy and agriculture, in addition to church and other worship activities — can be found at tdem.texas.gov/essentialservices.