After the number of COVID-19 patients in Trauma Service Area P exceeded 15% of total hospital capacity for seven consecutive days, businesses in Comal and Guadalupe Counties are now required to adhere to strict capacity requirements, and bars must close entirely.

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


The following institutions have no occupancy limit provided that six feet of social distancing between workstations is possible.


  • 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