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denem

(11,045 posts)
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 11:01 AM Jun 2020

Gov. Abbott: Bars must close at noon today, restaurants to reduce to 50%, outdoor gatherings limited

Source: KHOU-11

HOUSTON — Just one day after temporarily pausing the state's reopening plans, Texas is now increasing restrictions on some businesses in an effort to fight the spread of the coronavirus.

Friday's new order from Texas Governor Greg Abbott includes closing bars effective at noon today (except for to-go service) and reducing capacity at restaurants starting on Monday. Also, outdoor gatherings of 100 or more people must be approved by local governments, with certain exceptions

(snip) Friday's executive order includes the following:

•All bars and similar establishments that receive more than 51% of their gross receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages are required to close at 12:00 PM today. These businesses may remain open for delivery and take-out, including for alcoholic beverages, as authorized by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
•Restaurants may remain open for dine-in service, but at a capacity not to exceed 50% of total listed indoor occupancy, beginning Monday, June 29, 2020.
•Rafting and tubing businesses must close.
•Outdoor gatherings of 100 or more people must be approved by local governments, with certain exceptions.

Read more: https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/gov-abbott-all-bars-must-close-texas-announcement-friday-june-26/285-9775cea0-8034-4518-9a40-1c5700952409



U-Turn. Thank heavens.
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Gov. Abbott: Bars must close at noon today, restaurants to reduce to 50%, outdoor gatherings limited (Original Post) denem Jun 2020 OP
Damn, now it's really bad when FL governor outdrumpfs Texas' gov. lark Jun 2020 #1
Arizona DrToast Jun 2020 #13
Guess DeSantis figures he better show at least a smidgen of action, but of course not enough. lark Jun 2020 #31
They're all just awful. Jirel Jun 2020 #19
I hope we'll be seeing more of this in other states very soon. George II Jun 2020 #2
Better late than never? n/t Laelth Jun 2020 #3
That horse left weeks ago /nt bucolic_frolic Jun 2020 #4
But but but "are" freedoms! Hassin Bin Sober Jun 2020 #5
Fucking moron dalton99a Jun 2020 #6
+! denem Jun 2020 #7
Well, at least he's finally doing something. Buckeye_Democrat Jun 2020 #8
Too late, the breeders have tasted freedoms and will hit the dive bars even harder Baclava Jun 2020 #9
that just ain't good enough. nt yaesu Jun 2020 #10
trump and Abbott are the culprits behind reopening too soon in Texas, duforsure Jun 2020 #11
Too little. Bars that get 51% or more of their receipts KPN Jun 2020 #12
Too little, too late. roamer65 Jun 2020 #14
Too late. BumRushDaShow Jun 2020 #15
if a bar opens in defiance of the order they will have their license pulled rdking647 Jun 2020 #33
That's the type of thing that they had threatened to do here in PA BumRushDaShow Jun 2020 #37
Texas has dry counties and stuff like that LeftInTX Jun 2020 #51
I know Jersey has some "dry" cities - like Ocean City BumRushDaShow Jun 2020 #52
Galveston is a party, tourist town. LeftInTX Jun 2020 #53
Our one night $500 bar bill can validate that. BumRushDaShow Jun 2020 #54
im in austin rdking647 Jun 2020 #60
While the caseload's a bit spread, Igel Jun 2020 #59
This is good. Jirel Jun 2020 #16
I live in SA but grew up in Uvalde. hamsterjill Jun 2020 #21
I'm in Austin, and our numbers are going up but so far not as bad as Houston. Lonestarblue Jun 2020 #38
San Antonio let the Texas Democratic Party know in early April that the State Convention was not yellowdogintexas Jun 2020 #58
Bars closing at high noon on a Friday?! soothsayer Jun 2020 #17
Make no mistake. Abbott only did this because hamsterjill Jun 2020 #18
Well, at least he apparently can be shamed. Susan Calvin Jun 2020 #43
Perhaps. hamsterjill Jun 2020 #44
Oh, I meant shame in the Republican sense. nt Susan Calvin Jun 2020 #61
Always enough sense and energy to clean up the messes, but never enough of either to prevent them. ancianita Jun 2020 #20
Texas has "take-out" from bars!?! Tracer Jun 2020 #22
I'll take the fifth :) denem Jun 2020 #24
I don't know about from bars, but if their revenue is 51% from food you can get takeout booze herding cats Jun 2020 #26
it just has the be in a paper bag scarytomcat Jun 2020 #39
Mass doesn't even have happy hours! IronLionZion Jun 2020 #50
It used to be in Pittsburgh (maybe still is?) that bars were a standard Steelrolled Jun 2020 #56
Cue the death threats Miguelito Loveless Jun 2020 #23
I really believe that Abbott et al are still operating on the thoroughly disproved "Herd Immunity".. Hugin Jun 2020 #25
I think so too.. stillcool Jun 2020 #34
I don't assert a threshold of ZERO lightly... Hugin Jun 2020 #47
#abbottresign is trending on twitter rdking647 Jun 2020 #27
was there even any enforcement of social distancing and capacity limimts? pstokely Jun 2020 #28
Not at the State level in TX... Hugin Jun 2020 #29
He's a typical Libertarian-style preacher. KY_EnviroGuy Jun 2020 #32
Like Trump, Abbott is such a medical genius. Look here.... KY_EnviroGuy Jun 2020 #30
Excuse me, but HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Arthur_Frain Jun 2020 #35
Calif just opened the Santa Monica pier! Steelrolled Jun 2020 #36
In an article I read they said it was opened because the closure became unenforceable... Hugin Jun 2020 #48
I get it, but it seems bizarre that while Texas is (re)closing things down Steelrolled Jun 2020 #57
How's that 'liberate' thing going for ya, Greg? louis-t Jun 2020 #40
Too little too late. AllyCat Jun 2020 #41
Fuck you dead, Abbott. You've got blood on your hands. Paladin Jun 2020 #42
I am old enough Traildogbob Jun 2020 #45
So by rushing re-opening and failing to order protective measures, Yeehah Jun 2020 #46
UPDATE: "Texas, reported more than 17,000 confirmed new cases in the past three days... Hugin Jun 2020 #49
Ant and the grasshopper whistler162 Jun 2020 #55

lark

(23,003 posts)
1. Damn, now it's really bad when FL governor outdrumpfs Texas' gov.
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 11:03 AM
Jun 2020

Fuck us, we are so screwed here in FL. I am pissed as hell.

DrToast

(6,414 posts)
13. Arizona
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 11:35 AM
Jun 2020

Arizona is the biggest hotspot and they’re not doing anything yet. Well, they allowed cities to mandate masks, but the state hasn’t done much.

lark

(23,003 posts)
31. Guess DeSantis figures he better show at least a smidgen of action, but of course not enough.
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 12:38 PM
Jun 2020

It was just announced by him 45 min. ago that all FL bars have to stop serving alcohol. Tiny, little, ineffective baby steps is what he's doing. Glad the alcohol serving is going away because people lose their minds. Still no mask guidance and bars/restaurants/parks are not observing social distancing at all. The threat is they will visit bars and report them to get their liquor license pulled. So, nothing immediate at all will happen and I think it's just a totally empty threat to make them look like they care, but they don't and that won't be enforced is my guess.

Jirel

(1,993 posts)
19. They're all just awful.
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 12:06 PM
Jun 2020

I at least have some hope for Abbott and am not surprised he is being less flagrantly terrible. He is in a high risk category, so I think he wants to do more than other rethug governors, but he’s too much of a stinking political coward to fully act on it. He’s not dumb, and he’s not a true believer, but he’s another disgusting rethug politician who is going to support his party at almost all costs.

Buckeye_Democrat

(14,847 posts)
8. Well, at least he's finally doing something.
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 11:26 AM
Jun 2020

Stupid ass, but better late than never.

Closing the bars will be a big help.

duforsure

(11,882 posts)
11. trump and Abbott are the culprits behind reopening too soon in Texas,
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 11:32 AM
Jun 2020

And bear the responsibility for what its doing to us all now, and causing more delays in a returning to a safe opening. They both are total failures for doing this to us, and are prolonging hurting our economy from these policies .

KPN

(15,587 posts)
12. Too little. Bars that get 51% or more of their receipts
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 11:33 AM
Jun 2020

from sale of alcoholic beverages? That ain’t going to do it. Within 2 weeks we’ll see another round of closures — all eating establishments that serve alcohol.

BumRushDaShow

(127,308 posts)
15. Too late.
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 11:44 AM
Jun 2020

The blue cities might be able to try to enforce it but all those small towns (that is a huge state) are not even going to pay that any mind.

That's why the states that got hit early on spent so much time trying to condition people with repeated messaging about mitigation strategies while in lockdown, which the RW loons called "mask shaming" and other bullshit, and the bulk thankfully have complied regardless of the RW noise machine.

But there were always the same little groups flaunting it and the "hot spots" have now popped up in places like Delaware and Maryland (thanks to the beach re-openings and clueless people ignoring the guidance).

 

rdking647

(5,113 posts)
33. if a bar opens in defiance of the order they will have their license pulled
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 12:48 PM
Jun 2020

TABC (the alcohol commission) was suspending licenses over the weekend of bars exceeding capacity limits. if a bar opens in violation of the order they can be fined a shit ton of money,have the business seized and the owners/managers go to jail

BumRushDaShow

(127,308 posts)
37. That's the type of thing that they had threatened to do here in PA
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 01:32 PM
Jun 2020

(and our whole alcohol industry is state-controlled). However I can imagine (and I have been to TX twice - the last time in Galveston, rolling down I-45 from Houston to Galveston ) and I wouldn't be surprised if you have small establishments where "no one tells" and they continue on.

I.e., they can only "enforce" what they are aware of.

As a sidenote, I just saw a breaking from WaPo where Florida reported almost 9000 (~8900) new positives today and have also closed their bars immediately.

LeftInTX

(24,554 posts)
51. Texas has dry counties and stuff like that
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 02:57 PM
Jun 2020

Not many left, but it does have many parts with a "dry" history.

I'm from Wisconsin where there was a bar on every corner. Around here, most bars in within dining establishments, so you tend to go to the bar while waiting to eat. I live in San Antonio and I remember the only place we could get a beer near my parents' house was Pizza Hut. (This was in 1983) My boyfriend and I would go to Pizza Hut to get a beer..LOL It was so weird...we couldn't find anywhere else nearby.

We have bars without restaurants, but they aren't very common place. It just isn't the culture here.

BumRushDaShow

(127,308 posts)
52. I know Jersey has some "dry" cities - like Ocean City
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 03:16 PM
Jun 2020

(founded by Methodists and enforced over the past century) yet they were recently dubbed "the drunkest city (binge drinking) in the state of NJ".

We do have a bunch of BYOB restaurants since a state liquor license is exorbitant and they have generally kept the total number of licenses at a restrictive level.

When I was in Galveston (at a work-related conference about 25 years ago) we discovered its reputation as a spring break town full of lots of bars and restaurants along the ocean front, and managed to rack it up at several places in the evenings (while trying to avoid the fire ants ).

BumRushDaShow

(127,308 posts)
54. Our one night $500 bar bill can validate that.
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 03:31 PM
Jun 2020


(luckily we could walk/stumble back to the hotel after that since it was close by)

Igel

(35,196 posts)
59. While the caseload's a bit spread,
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 09:20 PM
Jun 2020

it's concentrated in blue cities.

It's where the first upticks were found, and it's where most of the positive test results are.

Jirel

(1,993 posts)
16. This is good.
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 12:02 PM
Jun 2020

I live in Texas, near San Antonio. The San Antonio powers that be have been really good about putting down more stringent requirements. San Antonio is going up, but not like Houston or Dallas.

However, I live in an area that counts as rural. The bedroom community between us and San Antonio is full of Trump rednecks screaming to reopen everything, and their mayor who was trying to be responsible at first has all but given up. We’ve taken to referring to the town as Plague Rat City, and avoiding it. I feel way safer in San Antonio than there, despite far higher case counts per capita. They NEED this order from the state.

The larger rural towns are also asking for trouble these days, one of which is going to hold a pro-forma city council meeting on mandating masks, just so they can vote against it and high-five. At least some good people there are taking it seriously, and I’ve had great conversations with some managers who are worried and doing their best. Having Abbott take some first steps may help stem the tide there.

hamsterjill

(15,214 posts)
21. I live in SA but grew up in Uvalde.
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 12:07 PM
Jun 2020

Sabinal just had its first death.

The daughter-in-law of the man who died is still posting on Facebook that the virus is a hoax. THAT is the mentality of some of the craziness we are dealing with.

I’m glad Abbott is back tracking a little. But he’s only doing it because of the very negative, national press he’s been receiving.

Stay safe!!!

Lonestarblue

(9,880 posts)
38. I'm in Austin, and our numbers are going up but so far not as bad as Houston.
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 01:42 PM
Jun 2020

Mayor Adler was proactive early on, cancelling big events like SXSW and closing city parks and facilities. The mayor would not have allowed businesses to reopen early, but Abbott overruled him and other city mayors who were trying to do the right thing. Now we see the results.

HEB (for non-Texans, one of our major grocery chains) has started mandating masks again, but when I went for groceries this morning, a woman wearing a mask had two children with no masks. I know that studies have shown that children are not as easily infected, but they can still give the virus to others if they’re infected—and they’re less likely to cover their mouths if they sneeze. When I see this I just turn and go down another aisle, but this sure is getting old.

By the way, Paul Krugman has a good piece in the NYT today about how it is Republicans who are extending the virus.

yellowdogintexas

(22,119 posts)
58. San Antonio let the Texas Democratic Party know in early April that the State Convention was not
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 08:58 PM
Jun 2020

welcome in June.
The Party ended up holding a virtual convention, and it turned out quite well. Bonus: lots of folks who were not going to go due to costs, time, etc in addition to COVID were able to participate.

hamsterjill

(15,214 posts)
18. Make no mistake. Abbott only did this because
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 12:03 PM
Jun 2020

of all of the negative and national press that he got over the last couple of days.

Just like Trump, it is all about re-election and nothing to do with saving ordinary citizens’ lives.

This man is a monster.

hamsterjill

(15,214 posts)
44. Perhaps.
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 01:55 PM
Jun 2020

More than likely, however, Abbott wants to save face for the next election.

He has dropped local leadership in the grease at every opportunity taking a page from the Trump playbook and putting the blame on the mayors and judges.

ancianita

(35,812 posts)
20. Always enough sense and energy to clean up the messes, but never enough of either to prevent them.
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 12:06 PM
Jun 2020

Good luck with the horses, boss Abbott.

Tracer

(2,769 posts)
22. Texas has "take-out" from bars!?!
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 12:12 PM
Jun 2020

Grab your Bud or a fifth of Jack Daniels and stroll down the street?

herding cats

(19,549 posts)
26. I don't know about from bars, but if their revenue is 51% from food you can get takeout booze
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 12:23 PM
Jun 2020

It's new since COVID but margaritas to go is the one good thing to come out of all this mess.

It has to be in sealed containers and you take it home and mix it yourself.

scarytomcat

(1,706 posts)
39. it just has the be in a paper bag
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 01:44 PM
Jun 2020

quick stores sell beer by the can or bottle but it has to be drunk from the bag even as you drive the freeways and streets.

IronLionZion

(45,258 posts)
50. Mass doesn't even have happy hours!
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 02:32 PM
Jun 2020

Plenty of places have takeout drinks. DC has takeout bottled cocktails but you have to buy food too, not just alcohol. Then you take it home to drink it. It's quite awesome.

Outdoor public drinking laws also vary. Some places you can have outdoor seating in front of the bar, which can be loosely defined and extended for social distancing. There have always been alcohol vendors selling stuff on beaches, outside sports venues, and so on.

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
56. It used to be in Pittsburgh (maybe still is?) that bars were a standard
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 05:10 PM
Jun 2020

place to buy packaged beer, as it wasn't sold in grocery stores, corner markets, etc. Your other choice was to go to a "distributor".

Hugin

(32,778 posts)
25. I really believe that Abbott et al are still operating on the thoroughly disproved "Herd Immunity"..
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 12:19 PM
Jun 2020

Last edited Fri Jun 26, 2020, 01:49 PM - Edit history (1)

concept.

Which, is not only horrendously racist, but, presupposes some underlying immunity within the 'herd' existing. An immunity which does not exist for a novel virus such as has caused the present pandemic.

Also, this is a perfect example of not making decisions based on a calendar rather than on events. In a pandemic the virus sets the calendar and moving phases to re-opening can only be based on specific mitigating events emerging in the timeline. Such as, a reliable treatment or vaccine. A fall in the number of new infections is insufficient to govern re-opening unless the number of new infections has fallen to ZERO for the incubation/infection contagious lifespan of the disease in question. In the case of COVID this period would seem to be approximately one month of ZERO new cases.

Oh, and the ZERO can not be achieved by ceasing all testing as has been opined (not a joke) by the gibbering buffoon currently squatting in the White House.

stillcool

(32,626 posts)
34. I think so too..
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 01:20 PM
Jun 2020

let the virus spread, kill whoever it wants, and eventually it'll be done. Change nothing. No shutting down, no masks, no nothing. No health care is good too. Accelerate the speed and maybe it'll be over sooner. Total disregard for human life, except their own. It's the only thing that makes sense...except for the 'base'. Their kind of 'logic' is too bent to get straight.

Hugin

(32,778 posts)
47. I don't assert a threshold of ZERO lightly...
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 02:05 PM
Jun 2020

Look at what happened when the virus first took hold in the US. We went from dozens of cases to thousands in a matter of days. The R0 for the COVID-19 pathogen is explosive. I really do wish it were different. Not the case, unfortunately.

I'm no expert on any of this, but, it's obvious to me. Being so clear, I have to imagine the real experts are running around with klaxons and flashing red lights screaming. Why we don't get more through the media escapes me. It has to be the whole 'don't panic the polis' edict. It's not serving us well at this point.

pstokely

(10,510 posts)
28. was there even any enforcement of social distancing and capacity limimts?
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 12:28 PM
Jun 2020

could the high rates of smoking and obesity of these places be contributing to the hospital admissions a younger population?

Hugin

(32,778 posts)
29. Not at the State level in TX...
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 12:31 PM
Jun 2020

The only real ordinances were at the local/municipal level and Abbott and the Lt Gov have done nothing, but, try to overturn them since they started.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
32. He's a typical Libertarian-style preacher.
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 12:41 PM
Jun 2020

(quote from the article)

"Every Texan has a responsibility to themselves and their loved ones".....

I suppose that's what they use to discourage drunk driving and refinery explosions.......

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,483 posts)
30. Like Trump, Abbott is such a medical genius. Look here....
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 12:31 PM
Jun 2020

(from article)

"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," Abbott said. "Every Texan has a responsibility to themselves and their loved ones to wear a mask, wash their hands, stay six feet apart from others in public, and stay home if they can."


Who knew?.......

And more..........

Arthur_Frain

(1,783 posts)
35. Excuse me, but HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 01:22 PM
Jun 2020

Furthermore, let me add.....

.....MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Guess I’ve decided I’m tired of being an adult about things when all I have to deal with is kindergartners in return.

Step right up there younglings, I’m a gonna teach you some new words.

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
36. Calif just opened the Santa Monica pier!
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 01:26 PM
Jun 2020

It was reported on CBS news, and just as the reporter said the officials were limiting the number of people, and requiring masks, a few people walked behind her with masks off.

They really couldn't postpone this, given what is happening in Calif?

Hugin

(32,778 posts)
48. In an article I read they said it was opened because the closure became unenforceable...
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 02:11 PM
Jun 2020

People simply aren't taking it as seriously as they should. Look at who should be setting the example and it's no question why they are blowing off any restrictions.

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
57. I get it, but it seems bizarre that while Texas is (re)closing things down
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 05:13 PM
Jun 2020

that Calif is opening things up, and both are in heap of trouble.

louis-t

(23,199 posts)
40. How's that 'liberate' thing going for ya, Greg?
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 01:46 PM
Jun 2020


Oh, and never forget, the Lt. Gov. of TX said senior citizens should be willing to "sacrifice themselves for the economy."

AllyCat

(16,035 posts)
41. Too little too late.
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 01:47 PM
Jun 2020

But it maybe will get the attention of people to start making changes despite Abbott’s inaction.

Paladin

(28,202 posts)
42. Fuck you dead, Abbott. You've got blood on your hands.
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 01:48 PM
Jun 2020

That goes double for that shithead Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

Traildogbob

(8,576 posts)
45. I am old enough
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 01:58 PM
Jun 2020

To remember blue states being slammed, and red state politicians fine with it, Gods revenge, our red states have very little virus. And especially one red state asshole, very concerned about “Bailing out” Blue States being nearly bankrupt from the virus. Something about “Blue State Bailout”. Who was that asshole you ask? Let em file for bankruptcy was the cry. They mismanaged their budget. May be a good time for Blue states to withhold funding, (taxes) as Dear leader loves to do to cause pain to the DemacRAT party. NOW, all these red state catastrophes, gonna need some cash. Looks like they mismanaged the Virus Response to me. What do you say McConnell, let em go bankrupt, AND die, from your playbook?

Yeehah

(4,524 posts)
46. So by rushing re-opening and failing to order protective measures,
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 02:00 PM
Jun 2020

idiot trump bumpkin governors have increased the length and impact of the pandemic.

"We told you so."

Hugin

(32,778 posts)
49. UPDATE: "Texas, reported more than 17,000 confirmed new cases in the past three days...
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 02:26 PM
Jun 2020

with a record high of nearly 6,000 on Thursday. The day's tally of over 4,700 hospitalizations was also a record."

from: Johns Hopkins https://coronavirus.jhu.edu

 

whistler162

(11,155 posts)
55. Ant and the grasshopper
Fri Jun 26, 2020, 04:34 PM
Jun 2020

ant = New York
Grasshopper - Texas and other states that have ignored Covid-19

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