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'Don't mess this up' | Fort Bend County judge says bars can reopen at 50% capacity tomorrow

Here's a list of all the Houston-area counties that have made decisions on whether to reopen bars.

HOUSTON — Texas bars can reopen for the first time since June, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday, but not all bars will be reopening.

According to Gov. Abbott's executive order, effective Oct. 14, bars can reopen at 50 percent capacity inside, but the county judge must approve it. In hospital regions where COVID-19 hospitalizations are less than 15 percent of hospital capacity, county judges will be able to opt their county into opening bars, provided they assist in enforcing health protocols, according to the executive order.

Here is how local leaders in the Houston area are responding to that order and the possibility of reopening bars this Wednesday:

(KHOU.com will add more counties to this list as updates are received.)

FORT BEND COUNTY - yes


County Judge KP George announced Tuesday he will allow bars to reopen at 50% capacity beginning Wednesday, Oct. 14.

"Don't mess this up," George told bar owners after making the annoucement. 

BRAZORIA COUNTY - yes

October 9 statement: "After consultation with the District Attorney, Sheriff, Health Department, and Public Health Authority, it has been determined by Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta that the County meets the criteria of Governor Abbott's Executive Order (GA-32) for opting in for bars to open at 50% capacity on October 14.

CHAMBERS COUNTY - yes

Oct. 13 statement: "Chambers County Judge Jimmy Sylvia has announced that Chambers County will opt in with the TABC to allow bars and similar establishments to operate with in-person service beginning Wednesday, October 14, 2020." Get the latest updates from the county here.

GALVESTON COUNTY - yes

Judge Mark Henry posted this video statement on Oct. 8 confirming the county would allow "bars and small businesses" to reopen on Oct. 14. Read more here and watch the video.

HARRIS COUNTY - no

Oct. 7 statement:  “Months ago, we established the Harris County Threat Level System - critical public health benchmarks to determine the county’s level of reopening and make way for sustainable, long-term reopenings. We have not been able to enforce the Threat Level System, which has led to a much slower decrease in the virus incidence. 

The data guiding county decision-making tells us we are doing much better than we were a few months ago, but we are still at the highest level: red. Indoor, maskless gatherings should not be taking place right now, and this applies to bars, as well.   

We are moving in the right direction because of the community coming together and helping contain this virus. We must not let down our guard or we will be right back where we started.  

The sooner we can get this virus under control means the sooner we can return to some sense of normalcy and the stronger our local economy will be. We would have gotten there long ago if Harris County had been able to take the aggressive measures we needed to take in April and again in June.” 

Judge Lina Hidalgo, Harris County

MONTGOMERY COUNTY - yes

Oct. 7 statement: "Earlier today Governor Abbott issued an updated Executive Order GA-32.  This order allows bars and other similar TABC licensed establishments to re-open at 50% beginning October 14th.  As County Judge for Montgomery County I wholeheartedly believe all business should be open 100% not 75% or 50%.  However, per the Governors latest Executive Order  I hereby opt in and our TABC licensed businesses in Montgomery County may resume operations per the Governors order at 50% on October 14th."

Judge Mark Keough

WALLER COUNTY - yes

Oct. 10 statement:  "Earlier this afternoon, I signed the necessary paperwork with the TABC to allow bars in Waller County to open at 50% capacity next Wednesday, Oct 14th.

And before any of you shoot the messenger, I am doing what I need to do per Gov Abbott’s current orders. I don’t disagree with many of you that it is time to open up Texas. Too many small business owners, especially bar owners, have suffered financially because of these restrictions. However, I also respect and follow the law and I will continue to work within the system.

I may not agree with the Governor’s position, but I am sworn to follow the law. The good news is that our bar owners can now get back to business."

Judge Trey Duhon

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Only bars with permits to sell food and those that reclassified as restaurants have been allowed to reopen since late August. That's when the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) changed its guidance to allow businesses to use alcohol sales projections or show that they recently had less than 51 percent alcohol sales in order to apply for a Food and Beverage Certificate. If granted, the businesses could then reopen as restaurants. 

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