Midnight brought the official start of Dallas County's shelter-in-place order to slow the spread of COVID-19. Photographer Allison V. Smith spent the first day under the restrictions documenting how North Texans spent time outside.
The order, which runs through at least April 3, requires that people leave their homes only for “essential activities” or “to provide or perform essential governmental functions" or “operate essential businesses.” People can also spend time outdoors as long as they follow federal social distancing guidelines.
Smith ran into a range of Dallasites, from a skateboarder getting some air to a police officer making the rounds.
![dallas police officer](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9875654/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1008x672+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fsites%2Fkera%2Ffiles%2F202003%2Fpolice_officer_1.jpg)
Credit Allison V. Smith / For KERA News
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![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0248f5e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/997x665+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fsites%2Fkera%2Ffiles%2F202003%2FSkateboarding.jpg)
Credit Allison V. Smith / For KERA News
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![take out only sign in English and Spainsh](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/40e9b10/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x663+0+0/resize/880x592!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fsites%2Fkera%2Ffiles%2F202003%2Ftake_out_only_sign_0.jpg)
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![Isaac Brodsky sells baked goods and coffee at Leila's Baker](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/99028d3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/672x1008+0+0/resize/880x1320!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fsites%2Fkera%2Ffiles%2F202003%2F032420KERAcorona00442_0.jpg)
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![construction crew](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d349479/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1008x672+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fsites%2Fkera%2Ffiles%2F202003%2Fconstruction_workers_0.jpg)
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![boarded up Franklins Tattoo](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/86e575d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/672x1008+0+0/resize/880x1320!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fsites%2Fkera%2Ffiles%2F202003%2F032420KERAcorona00353_0.jpg)
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![man mowing lawn at church](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c754e2b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/995x629+0+0/resize/880x556!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fsites%2Fkera%2Ffiles%2F202003%2Fmowing_lawn_at_church_0.jpg)
Credit Allison V. Smith / For KERA News
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