After being closed for several months, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has allowed bars to reopen at half capacity pending county judge’s approval.
Abbott announced on Wednesday afternoon that in regions with low COVID-19 hospitalizations, bars and river tubing businesses could reopen at 50% capacity beginning on Wednesday, October 14. Abbott says county judges could opt their county into these reopenings as long as they enforce health protocols similar to restaurants, more specifically with its social distancing and seating measures.
In addition to bars reopening, businesses like amusement parks, movie theaters, zoos, aquariums and bowling alleys can expand their capacity to 75% also beginning on Wednesday, October 14. Abbott says the state can afford these openings because Texans have become more informed, prepared and vigilant in preventing the spread of COVID-19. If cases continue to stabilize, Abbott says reopening will continue.
“Opening bars does not mean that COVID is no longer a threat. Most Texans are still susceptible to it. We simply now know better how to protect ourselves from getting COVID,” Abbott says. "If everyone continues safe practices, Texas will continue to contain COVID and we will be able to open 100%.”
Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley has not yet announced whether he will authorize Tarrant County bars to reopen or not. To learn more about Abbott’s revised restrictions, visit Gov.Texas.Gov.