WASHINGTON CO. GETS GO-AHEAD TO REOPEN BARS WEDNESDAY

  

Bars in Washington County will officially be allowed to reopen tomorrow (Wednesday).

After seeking approval from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) to reopen the county’s bars up to 50 percent inside capacity, County Judge John Durrenberger announced Monday that the county had been approved to do so.

Last week, Governor Greg Abbott announced that bars in counties with COVID-19 hospitalization rates lower than 15 percent would be allowed to reopen tomorrow, as long as their county judges were in favor and were approved by the TABC.  Durrenberger said the county currently has no patients that are hospitalized due to COVID-19.

Durrenberger said he has notified all bars that they are allowed to open if they choose to.  Durrenberger on Friday said there are seven bars in the county that this reopening applies to, those being businesses that are only licensed for alcohol sales.  Bars and breweries that have food and beverage permits were allowed to reopen in late July under new TABC guidelines.

The new order from Abbott limits the indoor capacity of bars, but there is no occupancy limit outdoors.  Bars will not be allowed to serve alcohol after 11 p.m.  Customers will need to be seated while eating or drinking, and tables will allow no more than six people.  They will also be required to wear masks when they are not seated.  Dance floors will be kept closed.