Bars Set To Reopen In Texas At 50% Occupancy Amid Coronavirus

AUSTIN, TX — Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday announced plans to allow bars to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic at up to 50 percent capacity starting next week.

The governor's Executive Order calls for bars' reopening in conjunction with county officials. Per the order: In regions with low COVID-19 hospitalizations, county judges will be able to opt their county into opening bars beginning Oct. 14, provided they assist in enforcing health protocols. The gubernatorial action also increases occupancy levels for all business establishments other than bars to 75 percent.

"Even as more businesses have opened and students return to school, Texans have shown we can contain the spread of COVID-19," Abbott said in a prepared statement. "Thanks to Texans following the best health practices, our state is prepared for additional openings, including bars."

Previous coverage: Texas Governor Hints Bars May Be Reopened Amid Coronavirus

Abbott suggested the move to allow bars to reopen was guided by medical professionals.

"Working with industry leaders and our team of medical experts, the State of Texas has now developed strategies to safely open bars under certain health protocols," Abbott wrote. "To ensure bars open safely, these openings will be done in conjunction with county officials. County judges will be able to opt their county into opening bars so long as they assist in enforcing the health protocols. Opening bars does not mean that COVID-19 is no longer a threat, and most Texans are still susceptible to the virus. As bars and similar businesses begin to open, we all must remain vigilant and show personal responsibility to protect ourselves and our loved ones."

Also outlined in the order is guidance for Trauma Service Areas (TSAs) where COVID-19 hospitalizations are less than 15 percent of hospital capacity. In such areas, a county judge may authorize the opening of bars and similar establishments at 50 percent occupancy, as detailed in the order. If a county judge authorizes the opening of these establishments, certain protocols must be followed.

As recommended by trade associations representing bars, dance floors at bars and similar establishments must remain closed, per the order. Consistent with protocols for restaurants, all patrons must be seated while eating or drinking (with limited exceptions for sampling at breweries, distilleries, and wineries), and must wear masks when they are not seated at a table. Additionally, tables must be limited to six individuals or less and all establishments must follow specific curfew guidelines.

The upshot: Starting on Wednesday (Oct. 14), all counties where COVID-19 hospitalizations are less than 15 percent of hospital capacity can open all businesses other than bars to 75% capacity.

Along with his written order, Abbott released a web video detailing his action, encouraging Texans to continue following best practices to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in their communities. The video can be viewed on YouTube.

Bar owners laud governor's action

Beleaguered bar owners forced to close their businesses for months amid the ongoing reach of the coronavirus lauded the governor's action.

“We’re grateful for Gov. Abbott addressing the economic crisis facing our small businesses," Patrick Whitehead, president of the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association and Texas Winery PAC board member, said. "As Texas continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, tasting rooms at hundreds of wineries, breweries and distilleries were closed, limiting consumer access, negatively affecting sales, impacting jobs, and reducing much-needed tax revenue for local and state governments. We’ve made clear that our businesses can safely reopen, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to throw open our doors once again to Texans ready to taste and buy Texas wines.

“With a direct and indirect economic impact of close to $15 billion to the state of Texas every year, including over $1 billion paid in state and local taxes, the Texas wine industry is pleased to have the opportunity to be a part of the Texas economic recovery from COVID-19.”

Dee Kelleher, co-owner of Dripping Springs Distilling and chair of the Texas Craft Spirits PAC, echoed similar sentiments: “Texas businesses are struggling during COVID-19, and the craft spirits industry is no exception. While we greatly appreciated the Governor’s efforts to keep people safe during this COVID crisis, the prolonged closure took its toll on many of our state’s smaller distilleries. In the event there is another shutdown, we hope Governor Abbott understands that distilleries, wineries, and breweries are not bars and should not be treated as such

“As we re-open and look ahead to the 2020 Texas Legislative Session, we must address long-term issues that hold back Texas craft distillers’ ability to create jobs, drive new investments and revenue for our state, and bring Texas-born and distilled craft spirits to more Texans.”

VFW posts will reopen too

The gubernatorial order effectively allows military posts to reopen as well. Dan West, state adjutant/quartermaster for the state's Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), said it was a "travesty" to have been forced to close in the first place.

“The Texas VFW is grateful to our allies and friends in Congress and the Texas Legislature who have heard our concerns and assisted us with reopening our posts," West said. “Frankly, though, it’s a travesty that we were closed at all. The prolonged closure of VFW Posts meant that those who served our nation and their families were shut off from the critical services we have been providing for over 100 years."

West spoke to the financial repercussions already sustained: “By classifying the close to 300 VFW Posts as bars, the State of Texas put our vital veterans’ organizations at risk of permanent closure due to a loss of revenue. It also limited Texas Veterans Service Officers’ ability to provide support to Texas veterans for Veterans Administration intake and claims."

West added that he hopes to work with the Legislature to prevent future closings: “The more than 1.7 million veterans in Texas deserve better, and we hope that our State leaders will address this issue in the next Legislative Session to prevent a situation like ours from happening again. The Texas VFW looks forward to working with the Texas Legislature and Gov. Abbott in the 2021 Legislative Session to ensure that VFW Posts don't ever have to endure the hardship of closures again."

Texas Democrats lambaste gubernatorial order

But not everybody was as enthusiastic. The Texas Democratic Party lambasted the move, citing data indicating that opening bars would only serve to exacerbate the health crisis.

"It is one of Abbott’s mismanaged policies that has led to more than 16,000 Texans dead and more than 800,000 Texans contracting the coronavirus," the Texas Democrats said in a prepared statement. "The coronavirus crisis is not over. Cases are already beginning to climb. We now have the second most cases, second most deaths, and the most new cases in the country in the past week."

Added Texas Democratic Party Executive Director Manny Garcia: “We’re in this mess because Trump lies and Abbott keeps rolling back health and safety policies too early. Hardworking families have held their breaths, waiting for Trump and Abbott to make smart policy decisions. Now, as Texas continues to rank first in the country in new cases, Abbott has proven that he is dead set on making the same mistakes again. The mismanagement of the coronavirus crisis at the federal and state levels have cost Texans our jobs, livelihoods, and lives."

This article originally appeared on the Austin Patch