Llano County creates COVID-19 task force

LLANO, Texas - Llano County has implemented a COVID-19 task force. The county says the task force has been created to review calls and respond to reported flagrant violations of the Llano County Stay Home-Stay Safe order.

"The mission of the task force is not to penalize citizens or businesses for violations of the order but ultimately to encourage compliance and maintain social distancing standards throughout Llano County until this virus is no longer a threat," says the county.

The task force is comprised of officers from the Llano County Sheriff's Office, the Llano County Constables and members of the City of Llano, City of Horseshoe Bay and Sunrise Beach police departments and the Investigators/Environmental Enforcement Officers from the Llano County Attorney's Office.

The task force is charged with coordinating efforts among the county agencies to provide "consistent" education and, if required, enforcement for violations of the Llano County Stay Home-Stay Safe Order which went into effect on April 1. The county says the task force should not be notified when simple courtesy and communication can solve a problem between citizens and/or businesses.

"We encourage residents of Llano County to continue to be disciplined in their activities and to be courteous when reminding others about social distancing and the Llano County Stay Home-Stay Safe Order," the county says.

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So far, 1,153 have been hospitalized in Texas and 140 have died.

Failure to comply with the order, after an initial warning and including additional education about the order, is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or up to 180 days in jail.

Anyone with questions about the enforcement of the order should call the Llano County Sheriff's Office at 325-247-5767 and complaints related to county COVID-19 violations will be forwarded to the task force for investigation, education and enforcement.

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