Texas Clamps Down on Bars in Pullback From Governor’s Reopening

(Bloomberg) -- Bars in Texas were ordered to shut and restaurants will face renewed restrictions as Governor Greg Abbott scales back the economic reopening amid a burst of new Covid-19 cases.

The positive-test rate for the virus has surpassed the 10% threshold that Abbott previously warned would trigger restrictions. In the county that encompasses Houston, one of the cities hardest hit by the virus’s second wave, a public health emergency was declared and residents were urged to stay at home.

Under an executive order issued by the governor on Friday, restaurants must limit occupancy to 50% effective June 29, and river-rafting businesses must close completely, according to a statement from his office.

Abbott’s decision to reopen the state’s economy eight weeks ago has been roundly criticized as premature by municipal and county leaders including Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. The city’s intensive-care wards have been pushed to full capacity, a children’s hospital system is now admitting adult patients, and elective surgeries have been suspended in four parts of the state.

“Today, we find ourselves careening toward a catastrophic and unsustainable situation,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said during a media briefing on Friday. “When did we lose our respect for human lives and the economy?”

Severe Outbreak

Hidalgo, the highest-ranking county executive in the Houston area, declared a Level 1 emergency effective at noon Central time. Under Level 1 status, the county’s 7 million residents are urged to stay at home and avoid indoor gatherings with people outside one’s immediate family.

“This means there is a severe an uncontrolled outbreak of Covid-19,” the first-term Democrat said. “Our hospitals are using 100% of their base capacity now and are having to start relying on surge capacity.”

Covid-19 hospitalizations have almost tripled in Texas since the end of May and Houston’s intensive-care wards hit full capacity on Thursday. The positive-test rate has almost tripled since the Memorial Day holiday weekend in late May.

The governor’s limits on taverns, restaurants and river-rafting are intended to target activities linked to the boom in virus cases across the Lone Star state, Abbott said in the statement. Outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people will now need permission from local authorities.

“At this time, it is clear that the rise in cases is largely driven by certain types of activities, including Texans congregating in bars,” the Republican governor said in the statement. “We want this to be as limited in duration as possible. However, we can only slow the spread if everyone in Texas does their part.”

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