A doctor outside a medical center in Texas, June 25, 2020. – David J. Phillip / AP / SIPA
The Governor of Texas this Friday ordered the bars to be closed from midday after an outbreak of coronavirus cases in the US state. “At present, it is clear that the increase in the number of cases is largely due to certain types of activity, in particular to the Texans who gather in bars,” said Governor Greg Abbott in a statement, in asking each Texan to “do their part”, to wear a mask and to respect the
social distancing.
Bars and similar establishments that derive more than half of their gross receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages must close Friday at noon. They remain authorized to make deliveries and take-out sales. Since June 12, restaurants could open at 75% of their maximum capacity. They must now be limited to 50%.
Over 5,000 new cases
Greg Abbott’s decree also empowers local governments to decide whether or not to authorize gatherings of 100 or more people. Texas reported 5,996 new cases on Thursday, a record in the large southern state since the start of the pandemic. It was the positivity rate, the number of positive tests compared to the total number of tests carried out, at 11.76% on Thursday that prompted Greg Abbott to “take additional measures to mitigate the spread” of the Covid-19.
In May, the governor said he was monitoring this indicator that he did not want to see exceed 10%. Texas is one of the first American states to have reopened its economy. As of May 1, restaurants, shopping centers, cinemas and stores were able to reopen at reduced capacity. Bars, hairdressers and beauty salons followed suit in the following weeks. Just last week, the governor announced the opening of amusement parks and fairs at 50% capacity.
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