This morning Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order closing bars starting at noon today, June 26. Bars are defined as establishments generating 51 percent of their revenue from the sale of alcohol for on premise consumption. The Governor also mandated closing of river rafting and tubing operations in the state.
Restaurants now open at 75 percent capacity were instructed by the executive order to return to 50 percent capacity effective at 12:01 am, Monday, June 29. The order exempts establishments in counties that have had very few Covid-19 cases. Outdoor gatherings of 100 people are allowed only with the approval of the appropriate mayor or county judge.
For the last two weeks the Governor has been stressing the need for bars to observe maximum customer limits and enforce social distancing. The TABC suspended the alcohol licenses of a number of bars found not to be in compliance.
Governor Abbott has warned if voluntary adherence to the wearing of masks and maintaining six feet of social distance did not keep the rise of Covid-19 under reasonable control, he would have to take steps to protect the capacity of the medical community in the state to treat those infected. He specifically mentioned the rate of infection among those being tested needed to remain under 10 percent. It has exceeded that level prompting the Governor’s action.
Read the Governor’s Executive Order here.