Tyler Mayor Issues “Stay at Home” Request with 1st Coronavirus Death in Smith County

TYLER — The first death from coranivirus in Smith County was announced at a midday briefing held by the Smith County Emergency Command Center. Officials say the victim was a 91-year-old man. Despite the grim announcement, Tyler Mayor Martin Heines says he’s never seen such good inter-agency cooperation.  “After thousands of man hours worth of work, on the part of the city , the county, your hospitals, your North East Texas Public Health, your school districts, we are all together, and we are ready for this crisis, whichever turn it may take. We are ready and we are prepared, Heines said.”

Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran said, “I have the utmost respect and confidence in our medical community and our hospital systems to meet the needs arising from COVID-19” Judge Moran continued, “these professionals are second to none in Texas and across the nation. We are blessed to have a medical system in Smith County that can meet the needs arising from this COVID-19 crisis.” Tyler Mayor Martin Heines put a request to citizens to “shelter at home.” The mayor said, “let’s not have social hour. Let’s practice what we know.”

Smith County Health Authority Dr. Jeff Levin encouraged residents to be patient with the medical community,”they are working very hard right now to continue to be prepared and ramp things up in a way that they can be responsive to perhaps less serious needs or concerns and those serious needs that are very possible to emerge for what we are experiencing with this virus.”

Tyler City Manager Edward Brousard drew attention to the governors executive order issued over the weekend, “The Governor’s Orders provided for fines and or criminal penalties that can go with this if there is not compliance, we of course always look to where we can come up with voluntary compliance before we have to use the heavy hand of the government, but this isn’t as far as guidelines that are being put out there. This is a requirement and we are taking it seriously.”