Never miss a story
Sign up for our free daily morning email...
...and afternoon text update
×
Featured
austonia newsletter
Get connected with our daily update
Most viewed
Abbott closes bars, shuts down tubing, reduces restaurant capacity as COVID-19 cases surge
26 June 2020
Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order that re-closed tubing businesses and bars Friday and reduces permitted restaurant capacity from 75% to 50% on Monday in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The state of Texas reported a record number of cases several times last week.
The order includes the following measures:
- Bars that receive more than 50% of revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages must close as of noon Friday, but may remain open for delivery and takeout.
- Restaurants must reduce dine-in capacity to 50% as of Monday.
- Rafting and tubing businesses must close.
- Outdoor gatherings of 100 or more people must be approved by local governments, with exceptions.
A news release states: "The targeted, measured directives in the executive order are based on links between certain types of businesses and services and the recent rise in positive cases throughout the state."
His actions Friday morning are the most severe step the governor taken this week to control COVID-19 cases, but he had already suspended elective surgeries in four large counties on Thursday, including Travis, and said he would pause the reopening process for the state.
A University of Texas epidemiologist told Austonia that much more drastic measures would need to be taken to get the surge under control.
This story has been updated with new information.
From Your Site Articles
- 3 Austin bars get permit suspensions for violating COVID-19 rules ... ›
- Large crowds, record business for some bars, parks and ... ›
- A lifeline for some, a burden for others: To-go alcohol sales get ... ›
- Governor OKs cocktails-to-go as bars face second shutdown - austonia ›
- Austin bar closures also close some dining establishments - austonia ›
- Austin bar closures also close some dining establishments - austonia ›
- Restaurants, bars, breweries scramble to reinvent themselves to get around Abbott's bar shutdown in Texas - austonia ›
- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces loosening of COVID restrictions - austonia ›
- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces bars may reopen amid COVID - austonia ›
- Travis County judge says bars must remained closed amid COVID - austonia ›
- Austin's Little Longhorn Saloon owner Ginny Kalmbach dies - austonia ›
- Gov. Abbott: All businesses can open at 100%, masks no longer required - austonia ›
- Austin bars, restaurants respond to Abbott's reopening order - austonia ›
- Sixth Street shows packed street with no masks after governors order lifted - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Popular
First score made by LAFC. (Sonia Garcia/Austonia)
Austin FC couldn't find the stamina to fight off a 2-0 loss against LAFC for their inaugural match on Saturday.
The match, which saw No. 21 Austin FC go head-to-head with No. 2 LAFC in Los Angeles, was broadcast nationally on FOX and FOX Deportes.
Salute the support. 👏
It's only the beginning for @AustinFC. pic.twitter.com/TduorqYr2y
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 18, 2021
Eleven players took the stage as Austin FC players for the first time, with five starters making their MLS debut. "Ringleader" Alex Ring took the captain's armband and wore it well. The defensive midfielder could be seen leading his teammates through their first ever match, but it wasn't enough to stage an Austin takeover in LA.
In the signature style of Head Coach Josh Wolff, the team played with quickness and intensity, nearly connecting on several fast breaks. It was harder for them to stay in front, however, something that Wolff credits with quick decision making and a tough LAFC defense.
"We have a quick attacking team, but I think when you make quick attacks and it fizzles it's just about some decision making," Wolff said. "Are we in position to finish attacks? If not, can we reestablish our attack and get stuff better?"
The club was given some generous breaks from No. 2 LAFC, who had one or both of their star DPs out for the half. While forward Diego Rossi is out for the entire match due to a hamstring injury, Carlos Vela was accidentally pulled too soon on what turned out to be a miscommunication.
"He gave us the sign that he needed to come off," LAFC Head Coach Bob Bradley said on broadcast. "I can't say more than maybe it's my fault."
LA pulled some dramatics and slowly gained more possession throughout the half, but ATXFC's defense wasn't initially as shaky as it seemed in preseason. Jhohan Romana has pulled his weight in getting the ball out of goal, and a 34-year old Matt Besler held his own in center back.
As the second half commenced, however, it became clear that LAFC had the advantage over Austin's first major league team.
Goalkeeper Brad Stuver had his work cut out for him, fending off 24 shot attempts, 11 of which were on goal. He didn't have much time to prepare, either: in the first 30 seconds of play, Stuver had already made a save to keep the match 0-0.
LAFC finally connected in the 61st minute of play as Corey Baird shot one into the bottom right corner. The team capitalized off their momentum and put one past Stuver a second time, drawing roars of approval from the LAFC crowd.
While some last-minute attempts from Jon Gallagher and others were made, Austin FC didn't have the endurance to bring a tie. After seven additional minutes of stoppage time, the club lost their first match 2-0.
While the scoreboard tells one story, Wolff said that the team did well considering the skill of LAFC and the pressure of their club debut.
"We've got to be realistic," Wolff said. "This is the first time this organization has been in front of TV with an opportunity to show itself and I think there were some promising moments. And we're going to maximize those and continue to try to develop those, but there's lots to build on."
The team may have lost, but it still won the support of thousands of Verde fans, dozens of which made it to watch their team's first match. When Stuver and the team made it to bthe stadium, Los Verdes fans were already there to show support, and Stuver said his wife saw the same back in Austin.
"The moment that we pulled into the stadium, we saw Black and Verde fans cheering us on as we got to the stadium," Stuver said. "During warm up, you can just look around and see different groups sitting in different sections of the stadium and it's just truly amazing to see the support in our first game. We know that we want to give the fans everything, because this we play for the city and we play for them."
Keep Reading
Show less
