SAN ANTONIO — Bexar County bar owners will be allowed to reopen their establishments at 50% capacity, Judge Nelson Wolff confirmed during Wednesday night's coronavirus briefing.
The decision was made after Judge Wolff reviewed the latest reports from Metro Health.
Last week, Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order allowing bars to reopen at 50% capacity in counties that meet state requirements for case counts and hospitalizations. The order goes into effect today, October 14.
At the time of the announcement, Judge Wolff said that Bexar County would not 'opt-in.'
During Wednesday night's briefing, Judge Wolff stated that Bexar County can move forward with reopening bars so long as they abide by several recommendations made by Metro Health which are important for the safety of customers.
Recommendations include:
- Occupancy of no more than 50% total capacity indoors, and 50% total capacity outdoors
- No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or entering/exiting.
- Create pre-set 6-foot distanced circles to help patrons observe safety measures.
- Ensure that ventilation systems operate properly and increase the circulation of outdoor air as much as possible, for example by opening windows and doors and prioritizing outdoor seating.
- Face coverings should be consistently and correctly worn if not actively eating or drinking. This includes while dancing.
- Keep tables at least 6 feet apart.
- No seating of multiple parties at one table
- No ordering, seating, or congregating at the bar (remove bar stools or take out of service)
- Actively encourage employees to stay home when they are sick or have been exposed, for example through flexible sick leave policies.
The county judge explained that Bexar County bars will be allowed to reopen sometime next week.
This order is subject to approval by county commissioners at Tuesday's meeting.
The Governor’s order states:
A bar or similar establishment may offer on-premises services at up to 50% of the total listed occupancy of the establishment if the county judge of the county in which the bar or similar establishment is located files the requisite form with TABC.
Patrons at bars or similar establishments operating under this paragraph may eat or drink only while seated, except that in an establishment that holds a permit from TABC as a brewer, distiller/rectifier, or winery, customers may sample beverages while standing so long as they are in a group of six people or fewer and there is at least six feet of social distancing or engineering controls, such as partitions, between groups. Where applicable, this 50% occupancy limit applies only indoors; the limit does not apply to outdoor areas, events, or establishments, although social distancing and other protocols must be followed.
According to the requirements laid out in Governor Abbott's executive order, 85 counties across the state are eligible to reopen as of October 14, per the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
Texas bars were forced to close their doors in June due to the coronavirus pandemic.