Travis County bars cannot reopen, Judge Biscoe says
Travis County bars will remain closed to customers for at least two more weeks because of an increase in coronavirus hospitalizations in the area, Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe announced Wednesday.
The move comes after Gov. Greg Abbott announced last week that bars in counties where coronavirus patients make up 15% or less of hospital beds could reopen at 50% capacity starting Wednesday. The governor said the decision to reopen or modify the orders would be up to county judges.
Biscoe, operating under advice from local health officials, said he could not “in good conscience allow bars to reopen.” On Monday, the seven-day average of new hospital admissions linked to COVID-19 was 15, the highest it’s been after several weeks of decline.
Biscoe’s decision to tap the brakes on reopening bars also comes after University of Texas researchers released a model projecting the spread of the coronavirus could increase by 66% over the next month.
Read more: https://www.statesman.com/news/20201014/travis-county-judge-canrsquot-rsquoin-good-consciencersquo-reopen-austin-area-bars