Hays, Caldwell counties adopt shelter-in-place; Construction still widely permitted

More of the Austin area is coming under shelter-in-place orders that stop non-essential business activity. Hays County's shelter-in-place order went into effect on the night of March 26. Caldwell County issued a similar order on March 30, and it will go into effect at 10 p.m. on March 31. But, unlike in Austin, those two counties south of the capital city will continue to allow residential and commercial construction. State and local governments are increasingly using these orders as a way to…