State Shuts Down Dine-In: City, County Leaders Meet, Major Announcement Expected

SAN ANGELO, TX — There are no confirmed cases of anyone ill because of COVID-19, the coronavirus in Tom Green County. However, City, County, and health care professionals met for over two hours this morning. A decision was made, but hasn’t been announced yet. The San Angelo City Council will meet at 3 p.m. Thursday to consider extending the emergency declaration that Mayor Brenda Gunter issued Monday. Details.

In a press conference today at noon, Governor Abbott announced an executive order that implemented statewide restrictions, including:

• No gatherings more than 10 people
• Avoid gyms
• No in-restaurant dining
• No visiting nursing homes, retirement homes, or long term care facilities
• All schools temporarily closed

This is a public health disaster declaration. The last declaration was in 1901. We anticipate the City and County announcement will align with the governor’s declaration. The restrictions will be in place until April 3, according to the governor at the press conference that started at noon today and ended at 12:45 p.m.

Governor Greg Abbott is also holding a town hall at 7 p.m. this evening to discuss the COVID-19 response by State officials. Joining him will be John Hellerstedt, Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner; Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management; Imelda Garcia, Associate Commissioner of Laboratory and Infectious Disease Services at the Texas Department of State Health Services; and Mike Morath, Texas Education Agency Commissioner.

You can watch the town hall online at Austin’s KXAN website here.

If you are on Suddenlink cable in San Angelo, the town hall will be on KSAN on channel 3.

Across the state, pressure is mounting to make the closing of restaurants and bars universal. In the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, a mild spat erupted when Dallas County ordered restaurants and bars closed but Tarrant County imposed a maximum occupancy but allowed eateries and bars to remain open. WFAA journalist Rebecca Lopez caused a stir when she reported that the economic loss to Dallas establishments would be for nothing if commuters from Tarrant County travel to Dallas County after experiencing higher chances of exposure to the virus.

Lopez contacted the governor’s office who told her that the governor prefers for local officials to make decisions.