Effective December 28, bars must close, elective surgeries may need to be rescheduled, and many businesses must reduce their occupancy to 50% as outlined in State Executive Order GA-32.
In Governor Abbott’s Executive Order GA-32, it states that in areas with high hospitalizations, any business establishment that otherwise would have a 75% occupancy or operating limit may operate at up to only 50%. “Areas with high hospitalizations” means any Trauma Service Area that has had seven consecutive days in which 15% or more of total hospital capacity has been COVID‑19 patients.
The City of Schertz is located in Trauma Service Area P. This area reached 15% of total hospital capacity being COVID‑19 patients on Tuesday, December 22. In order for capacity limits to move back to 75%, there will need to be seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID‑19 hospitalized patients as a percentage of total hospital capacity is 15% or less.
A current list of areas with high hospitalizations can be found at dshs.texas.gov/ga303.
How does this impact local businesses?
Bars - Any establishment which has more than 51% of gross receipts from the sale of alcohol must close to in-person dining. Drive-through, pickup, and delivery options for food and drinks are allowed to the extent provided by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
Other businesses - Any business establishment that otherwise would have a 75% occupancy limit must operate at up to only 50%.
Surgeries - Elective surgeries, as defined in Executive Order GA-31, must reschedule unless they “would not deplete any hospital capacity needed to cope with the COVID-19 disaster.”
The following activities/services are not impacted by these occupancy changes:
- Religious services
- Local government operations
- Childcare services
- Public or private schools
- Youth camps
- Adult or youth recreational sports
- Drive-in movies, concerts, and similar events
- Personal care/beauty establishments with at least six feet of social distancing between workstations (see full list in Executive Order GA-32)
- Services listed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in its Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce
