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Dallas Salon Owner Is Jailed for Defying Order to Stay Closed Dallas Salon Owner Is Jailed for Defying Order to Stay Closed
(30 days later)
A Dallas salon owner who reopened her business on April 24, defying state and county orders for nonessential establishments to remain closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, was sentenced on Tuesday to a week in jail and was fined at least $3,500.A Dallas salon owner who reopened her business on April 24, defying state and county orders for nonessential establishments to remain closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, was sentenced on Tuesday to a week in jail and was fined at least $3,500.
The salon owner, Shelley Luther, was found to be criminally and civilly in contempt of court by Judge Eric V. Moyé of 14th Civil District Court in Dallas County, who said during a hearing that Ms. Luther had acted selfishly when she resumed operations at Salon À La Mode.The salon owner, Shelley Luther, was found to be criminally and civilly in contempt of court by Judge Eric V. Moyé of 14th Civil District Court in Dallas County, who said during a hearing that Ms. Luther had acted selfishly when she resumed operations at Salon À La Mode.
Ms. Luther’s salon operated for seven days after the city of Dallas obtained a restraining order against Ms. Luther, 46, according to Judge Moyé, who said that Ms. Luther could avoid jail time if she ceased her activities.Ms. Luther’s salon operated for seven days after the city of Dallas obtained a restraining order against Ms. Luther, 46, according to Judge Moyé, who said that Ms. Luther could avoid jail time if she ceased her activities.
He also called on her to apologize to the elected officials whose orders she flouted, saying that until a vaccine for the virus is developed, citizens must obey emergency orders.He also called on her to apologize to the elected officials whose orders she flouted, saying that until a vaccine for the virus is developed, citizens must obey emergency orders.
“Failure to do so will only have catastrophic consequences,” Judge Moyé said, “and those reach far beyond the exigencies of one family or one business.”“Failure to do so will only have catastrophic consequences,” Judge Moyé said, “and those reach far beyond the exigencies of one family or one business.”
But Ms. Luther said that she would not comply with stay-at-home orders and that she had no regrets about reopening after a closure of more than a month.But Ms. Luther said that she would not comply with stay-at-home orders and that she had no regrets about reopening after a closure of more than a month.
“I have to disagree with you, sir, when you say that I’m selfish, because feeding my kids is not selfish,” Ms. Luther said. “So, sir, if you think the law’s more important than kids getting fed, then please go ahead with your decision. But I am not going to shut the salon.”“I have to disagree with you, sir, when you say that I’m selfish, because feeding my kids is not selfish,” Ms. Luther said. “So, sir, if you think the law’s more important than kids getting fed, then please go ahead with your decision. But I am not going to shut the salon.”
The hearing, conducted with strict social distancing measures in place, came just three days before hair and nail salons and barbershops will be allowed to reopen in Texas as certain social distancing restrictions are lifted by Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican.The hearing, conducted with strict social distancing measures in place, came just three days before hair and nail salons and barbershops will be allowed to reopen in Texas as certain social distancing restrictions are lifted by Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican.
Ms. Luther was taken into custody after the hearing, where she wore a mask. Judge Moyé also wore a mask and heard some testimony through a Zoom videoconference. Some of the court officials also participated through Zoom.Ms. Luther was taken into custody after the hearing, where she wore a mask. Judge Moyé also wore a mask and heard some testimony through a Zoom videoconference. Some of the court officials also participated through Zoom.
Warren V. Norred, a lawyer for Ms. Luther, said in an interview on Tuesday night that he planned to appeal the ruling immediately. He suggested that politics, not the spread of the virus, had prompted Judge Moyé to mete out jail time for Ms. Luther.Warren V. Norred, a lawyer for Ms. Luther, said in an interview on Tuesday night that he planned to appeal the ruling immediately. He suggested that politics, not the spread of the virus, had prompted Judge Moyé to mete out jail time for Ms. Luther.
“It’s breaking Shelley Luther,” he said. “That’s what this court wants to do.”“It’s breaking Shelley Luther,” he said. “That’s what this court wants to do.”
Mr. Norred said it would be particularly tragic if Ms. Luther contracted the coronavirus while in jail.Mr. Norred said it would be particularly tragic if Ms. Luther contracted the coronavirus while in jail.
And on Wednesday, several Republican politicians in Texas rallied around Ms. Luther, including the governor, Mr. Abbott, and the state attorney general, Ken Paxton. A GoFundMe page set up for Ms. Luther by her supporters had raised more than $350,000.And on Wednesday, several Republican politicians in Texas rallied around Ms. Luther, including the governor, Mr. Abbott, and the state attorney general, Ken Paxton. A GoFundMe page set up for Ms. Luther by her supporters had raised more than $350,000.
Updated June 2, 2020
Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.
Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
More than 40 million people — the equivalent of 1 in 4 U.S. workers — have filed for unemployment benefits since the pandemic took hold. One in five who were working in February reported losing a job or being furloughed in March or the beginning of April, data from a Federal Reserve survey released on May 14 showed, and that pain was highly concentrated among low earners. Fully 39 percent of former workers living in a household earning $40,000 or less lost work, compared with 13 percent in those making more than $100,000, a Fed official said.
Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
“Compliance with executive orders during this pandemic is important to ensure public safety;" Mr. Abbott said in a statement, “however, surely there are less restrictive means to achieving that goal than jailing a Texas mother.“Compliance with executive orders during this pandemic is important to ensure public safety;" Mr. Abbott said in a statement, “however, surely there are less restrictive means to achieving that goal than jailing a Texas mother.
Mr. Paxton called the sentenced handed down by Judge Moyé’ a “shameful abuse of judicial discretion” and said it seemed like “another political stunt” in a statement.Mr. Paxton called the sentenced handed down by Judge Moyé’ a “shameful abuse of judicial discretion” and said it seemed like “another political stunt” in a statement.
On April 24, police officers visited Ms. Luther’s 19-seat salon and issued her a citation for reopening her business, which had been closed since March 22.On April 24, police officers visited Ms. Luther’s 19-seat salon and issued her a citation for reopening her business, which had been closed since March 22.
The next day, Ms. Luther appeared at a protest against stay-at-home orders in Frisco, Texas, where she tore up a cease-and-desist letter sent to her by a Dallas County judge.The next day, Ms. Luther appeared at a protest against stay-at-home orders in Frisco, Texas, where she tore up a cease-and-desist letter sent to her by a Dallas County judge.
Last Friday, Mr. Abbott lifted a stay-at-home order in Texas and allowed shopping malls, restaurants and other businesses to reopen at a limited capacity. That same day, Mr. Abbott told lawmakers that he expected the coronavirus to spread as businesses reopened, a comment that drew criticism from Democrats.Last Friday, Mr. Abbott lifted a stay-at-home order in Texas and allowed shopping malls, restaurants and other businesses to reopen at a limited capacity. That same day, Mr. Abbott told lawmakers that he expected the coronavirus to spread as businesses reopened, a comment that drew criticism from Democrats.
Mr. Abbott’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday night.Mr. Abbott’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday night.
Also on Tuesday, the authorities in West Texas announced criminal charges against eight people, including the owner of a bar in Ector County that had reopened in defiance of the governor’s emergency order.Also on Tuesday, the authorities in West Texas announced criminal charges against eight people, including the owner of a bar in Ector County that had reopened in defiance of the governor’s emergency order.
Manny Fernandez contributed reporting.Manny Fernandez contributed reporting.