ABILENE, TX -- On Tuesday, the Trauma Service Area D officially reached the 7-day threshold for COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Trauma Service Area D encompasses 16 counties, including Taylor County. This will require all counties in the service area to close bars, reduce capacity to 50 percent in restaurants, retail stores, office buildings, gyms and libraries, and putting elective surgeries on hold.
The latest hospitalization rate reported is 19.27%, which is the highest since the pandemic began.
“Abilene and Taylor County join a club that we didn't want to join," said Mayor Anthony Williams. "But nevertheless, we're here.”
According to Mayor Williams, the City of Abilene will not implement further restrictions than the ones found in the governor's executive order.
Trauma Service Area D Surpasses 7-Day Streak Over 15%
In November, Willaims told local media he did not support using law enforcement to ensure businesses are staying within capacity.
"The only thing that we have not done in Abilene that we could do is we could cite businesses," said Willaims. "But we've chosen not to do that as of yet."
According to Williams, it is not easy to implement the citation of businesses that don't comply with current public health mandates.
“How do you identify which businesses and not create an unfair environment, where some have been cited and some have not been cited at a time where some of them are struggling to keep their doors open, that employ our neighbors?" said Williams.
In response to those that believe Abilene is not doing enough to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the community, the mayor shared this message.
“I think the City, the county, those healthcare professionals are doing the very best that we all can try to navigate the global pandemic."
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