Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order early on Friday morning limiting all bars to delivery and takeout services only, i.e. no more drinking or eating on the premises, according to reporting by NPR. The order also culled indoor restaurant seating back to 50 percent capacity; previous to this, eateries were allowed to operate at 75 percent. Additionally, rafting and tubing businesses will have to cease operations, and all gatherings of 100 people or more have to be approved by the state government. RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. “At this time, it is clear that the rise in cases is largely driven by certain types of activities, including Texans congregating in bars. The actions in this executive order are essential to our mission to swiftly contain this virus and enhance public health. We want this to be as limited in duration as possible,” Abbott said in a statement accompanying the order. The announcement that Florida bars are to immediately cease all on-premise consumption of alcohol came from the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), per NBC 6 Miami. Here as well, bars can still sell drinks to-go and provide delivery service. “Based on recent increases in COVID-19 cases and non-compliance with previous orders, DBPR has taken action to suspend on-premises alcohol sales at bars,” DBPR Secretary Halsey Beshears said. “DBPR believes this is a necessary step to take to protect public health as we continue working in partnership with industry and health officials to combat COVID-19.“ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb Yesterday, The New York Times reported that people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s make up a larger portion of positive coronavirus cases than they did earlier in the pandemic, which suggests that they are significantly fueling the spread—even if most don’t get very severe cases or even show symptoms. In Florida, the Times says, the median age of individuals testing positive for coronavirus dropped from 65 in March to 35 now in June. In Texas, more than half of new cases reported in cities are younger people. Shutting down bars to patrons can be seen not only as an effort to cut down on the places where people can congregate, but also to especially curb the interaction of younger individuals. And for more on asymptomatic spread, This Many Americans May Have Had Coronavirus and Didn’t Know It, Says CDC.
