Tarrant County on Saturday reported 1,302 new COVID-19 cases, and deaths attributed to the virus were up two since Tuesday.
In daily updated statistics, the county's Public Health department said total diagnosed COVID cases as of Friday were 108,480, up from 107,178 the day before. Deaths so far are at 872, up from 870 on Tuesday. In the last week, 11,186 more cases and 10 deaths were reported in the region, according to the public health department.
Because of high hospitalizations due to the COVID in the region, as of Thursday, various businesses in the region are under order to roll back capacity to try and put down the surge. The threshold was included in an order by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in October. The order says occupancy reductions and certain closures are required in any “trauma service area” in the state that’s experienced seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID-related hospital admissions as a percentage of total hospital capacity exceeds 15%.
Businesses in the region that had been allowed to operate at 75% occupancy limits are now required to operate at no more than 50%, “including restaurants and food service businesses that have less than 51% of their gross sales in alcoholic beverages,” the city of Fort Worth said.
Bars that have “more than 51% of their gross sales in alcoholic beverages and do not possess a food and beverage license from TABC will be prohibited from offering on-premises services; however, drive-thru, pickup, and delivery options for food and drink remains allowed to the extent permitted by TABC,” the city said.
For businesses like restaurants that can operate at 50% occupancy, state law requires:
• Businesses to enforce mask-wearing policies in their establishments;
• Customers may eat or drink only while seated if dining in;
• Maintain occupancy at no more than 50% plus employees;
• Use good-faith efforts and available resources to follow the Department of State Health Services’ minimum standard health protocols, which include no tables of more than 10 people and at least six feet of distance from tables or partitions between tables.
The 50% occupancy requirement applies to restaurants, retail stores, office buildings, manufacturing facilities, gyms and exercise facilities and classes, museums, and libraries. Licensed hospitals are required to discontinue elective surgeries.
The 19-county “Trauma Service Area E” includes Tarrant, Parker, Johnson, Hood and Denton counties, and numerous counties that the Dallas area comprises.