With COVID-19 Cases Surging, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Shutters Dallas Bars Again

As the number of coronavirus cases continues to surge across the state of Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered bars across the state to close their doors once again.

Abbott’s latest executive order requires bars, or any establishment that earns 51 percent of its revenue from the sale of alcohol, to close their doors at noon today. According to a press release from Abbott, bars will be allowed to continue takeout and delivery, including of alcoholic beverages, in accordance with Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission guidelines. Which means that cocktail kits are still on the table, but to-go mixed drinks are still not an option.

Starting on Monday, June 29, restaurants will also be required to return to 50 percent of normal occupancy. Restaurants were just allowed to increase their occupancy to 75 percent of normal occupancy on June 12. “At this time, it is clear that the rise in cases is largely driven by certain types of activities, including Texans congregating in bars,” Abbott said in a statement. “The actions in this executive order are essential to our mission to swiftly contain this virus and protect public health.”

Abbott’s latest executive order comes as the state of Texas’s positivity rate, or the number of people testing positive for COVID-19, exceeds 10 percent. At present, more than 130,000 positive cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the state, including 18,135 in Dallas County.