Restrictions on public access to Collin County government offices will be lifted Friday, May 1, in an executive order issued by County Judge Chris Hill.

Offices will be opened for unscheduled, in-person visits. The order does not include the courts system.

Access to county officers was curtailed on March 20 in an effort to limit the potential exposure to COVID-19 for the public and county employees. Those restrictions are being removed, although measures are being put in place to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

Some examples of these extra precautions include:

• Face masks will be available for the public and county employees (and may be required in certain departments).

• Plexiglas sneeze guards in certain locations where face-to-face interactions are more common

• Limiting the number of individuals in an office at the same time to avoid gatherings and to allow for adequate spacing between guests.

• More frequent cleaning and sanitizing of offices.

Individuals who have underlying health complications or who may be at increased risk of severe illness are highly encouraged to stay home, and contact county employees by phone, mail, or through the county’s online services.

Collin County courts (Justice of the Peace Courts, Probate Courts, County Courts at Law, and District Courts) are under the jurisdiction of the Texas Office of Court Administration (OCA), and those departments will resume in-person court proceedings according to updates provided through the OCA.

Residents are encouraged to visit the individual courts’ webpages from www.collincountytx.gov for further guidance.

For more stories like this, see the April 30 issue or subscribe online.

From Staff Reports • [email protected]