Beware of the Bar Scene
Bars are ordered to close in some states as data suggests they may be contributing to the rise in Covid-19 cases nationwide
Cases of coronavirus are on the rise in the U.S. and data suggests that the reopenings are playing a part. Specifically, it appears bars — and possibly restaurants — have a role. On Friday, Texas and Florida ordered bars to close.
Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas has ordered all bars to close on Friday and is telling restaurants to reduce their capacity. Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation announced Friday that on-premises alcohol consumption is being suspended at bars.
As Kaiser Health News reports, health officials have identified bars as hotspots for recent outbreaks of Covid-19 cases in Louisiana, Florida, Wyoming, and Idaho. The Texas alcohol licensing board suspended the liquor licenses of 17 bars after undercover agents observed bars not following the rules and allowing overcrowding. Bars in Texas are supposed to limit indoor service to half their occupancy, keep tables to 10 people or fewer, and enforce six feet of distance between groups of people.
You can see what some of these packed bars looked like here:
