Trauma Service Area P includes 22 counties in Southwest Texas. Coronavirus patients accounted for 15.97% of hospitalizations in the area as of Dec. 27.
According to Gov. Greg Abbott’s Executive Order GA-32, which went into effect Oct. 14, any business operating at 75% capacity within a TSA that records seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID-19 patients exceeds 15% of total hospital capacity must reduce its maximum capacity to 50%.
Bars that are not operating as restaurants must close entirely under the order. These restrictions will remain in place until the hospitalization rate in TSA P is below 15% for seven consecutive days. Area hospitals must also postpone elective surgeries.
The 50% capacity order applies to retail establishments, restaurants, office buildings, manufacturers, museums, libraries, gyms and fitness facilities. Bars may continue to offer drive-thru, pickup or delivery options to the extent allowed by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
The following establishments have no occupancy limits.
- Services listed as an Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce
- Religious services
- Local government operations
- Governmental operations related to licensing, permitting, recordation and document-filing services
- Child-care services
- Youth camps
- Recreational sports programs for youth and adults
- Any public or private schools and institutions of higher education
- Drive-in concerts, movies and similar events
- Cosmetology salons, hair salons, barbershops and nail salons
- Massage establishments
- Other personal-care and beauty services, such as tanning salons, tattoo studios, piercing studios, hair removal services, and hair loss treatment and growth services
