Texas Gov. Greg Abbott closes bars, dials back restaurants to half-capacity, shuts river rafting

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday took more countermeasures to stem a tide of coronavirus infections, as he closed bars, ordered restaurants to return to 50% capacity, shut river-rafting outfits and gave local officials more control over large gatherings ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.

Abbott called the moves “targeted measures,” but stressed the state must move forcefully to get the current spread of COVID-19 under control.

Abbott noted he always said that if positivity rates again exceeded 10%, he’d consider that a “red flag” that required action to limit reopening of businesses and public activities. The positivity rate, which is the percentage of coronavirus tests administered that produce a positive result, dwindled to under 5% last month.

Abbott said public health authorities have linked businesses covered by his Friday order to rising infections.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/texas-gov-greg-abbott-closes-bars-dials-back-restaurants-to-half-capacity-shuts-river-rafting/ar-BB160uKT?li=BBnb7Kz

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. His Lardship will not be pleased.

[Horse with no Name]

2. Even most of my sane Republican friends here in Texas

Have been asking for masks to be mandated. I bet within a week they will be.

[BannonsLiver]

3. I just want to get this straight

People can still go to packed indoor nail salons and eat indoors at restaurants, but river rafting, of all things, that’s completely out of the question?

[Initech]

4. Makes about as much sense as Georgia opening bowling alleys.

[MissB]

7. Kind of does make sense

Guided river rafting is a thing people spend money on. Chances are pretty good that folks have booked trips months in advance and are coming from out of state.

At least one very popular river in the southern part of our state here is so impacted that you may end up trying the BLM’s lottery method to secure a spot to raft on a specific day.

So yeah, limiting these activities means that you aren’t drawing folks from other states and helping to limit the spread of Covid not only in that state but in others too.

[BannonsLiver]

8. Sigh...It makes less sense than leaving nail salons open is my point

I see the Holiday Inn Express Express is fully booked again.

[MissB]

9. Sure.

But folks in salons can effectively use masks.

Folks river rafting cannot. It’s really a wet sport so a mask would quickly become inundated and useless. So you’d be bringing together unmasked people that are shouting, whooping it up and screaming during the more challenging parts of the trip.

It’s a totally different activity than going to a mall or hair/nail salon with masks on.

On edit: there’s really no need to insult and assume that I know nothing.

Sincerely and without any sarcasm, have a great day

[greenjar_01]

5. Dear Governor Abbott,

Sincerely,
XX

[jcgoldie]

6. River rafting?!?

Oh shit this is getting serious.

[Liberal In Texas]

10. And closing bars.

If revenue is 51% or over from alcohol. After seeing pictures of hundreds of "kids" (with very few masks in sight) crowding upscale bars like in the Uptown area around here, you realize they should never have been allowed to reopen.

It's like all the progress we made during the lock-down has been wiped out and we'll have to start over.