Screenshot of KHOU 11 Harris County news conference ordering the closure of restaurant bars and restaurant rooms.
At a press conference shortly after 5pm this evening, Judge Lina Hidalgo ordered all Houston bars as well as restaurant rooms are closedThe Movement aims to limit the places where people can gather and, therefore, the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the community. The rule takes effect at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17 – a day when historically people fill bars and taverns to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day – and is in place for 15 days.
Restaurants and bars with food menu can continue to serve the public through receiving, transport and distribution servicesWith We have worked on a list of restaurants that already have those services and will continue to update it in the coming days. Restaurant owners who want to add can email us.
We are making difficult decisions that are in the best interest of the health of our residents.
Our decision to close limited bars and restaurants follows the example with the other three major cities in our nation. # COVID-19
– Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) 16 March 2020
“When the CDC released its instructions showing it [gathering] limit of 50, he changed things, “said the Houston mayor Sylvester TurnerMoreover, both Hidalgo and Turner cited President Donald Trump’s previous press conference recommending an even stronger limit of 10 as influential in the decision.
Another factor cited by both Hidalgo and Turner were the personal observations over the weekend that large crowds were gathering and not adhering to previously issued guidelines for social distancing. “The bottom line is that you should not be part of a big rally,” Hidalgo said.
The decision closely follows the city of Dallas, which also indoor bars and restaurant dining rooms today earlier.
“We will continue to work diligently to bring this situation under control,” Turner said.