The Houston area officially crosses the hospitalization threshold that causes the reopening of retrocessions

HOUSTON – The Houston area officially crossed the hospitalization threshold that triggers the reopening of the area on Tuesday, and the state has sent letters to county judges informing them of the requirement.

Texas State Department of Health Services data show coronavirus-related hospitalizations in the Trauma Q service area, which includes Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties, have been above 15 % for seven consecutive days. This triggers a provision in Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s reopening order that requires, among other things, bars to close and restaurants to reduce capacity by 50%.

KPRC 2 has obtained copies of the letters that were sent to the judges of the nine counties that are part of TSA Q. You can read them below.

A DSHS spokesman said the order goes into effect immediately.

This would be the the same setbacks that were instituted in Galveston and Brazoria counties, who are in the R service area of ​​the trauma, just before Christmas.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said she expected Tuesday’s figures to exceed the region above the threshold.

“This is an alarm clock call for us,” Hidalgo said.

The judge said people should take the situation seriously and take steps to change the trajectory of the numbers. He said this means people should wear masks, stay home as much as possible, wash their hands, avoid meetings and get tested.

“Each and every one of us knows the drill,” Hidalgo said. “It simply came to our notice then. We have to do it again. ”

Bar owners worried about survival

A bar converted into a restaurant in northern Houston, Mel’s Place, said having to go down to 50% capacity would be devastating for his small business, which is already struggling to get it.

Pamela Hillhouse, owner of Mel’s Place on Airline Drive, said she had to use more money to get a license and products to serve food.

“You have to buy the equipment to cook, all of that, it’s been really hard,” Hillhouse said.

Stella Birchfield, Mel’s Place’s head waitress, said she chose to retire from her other job and spent years working at the bar, caring for regular customers.

“This is my hometown. I retired from the county and this is my place where I have all my people here: my family. It just means a lot to me, ”said Birchfield.

A mile away in Fort Bend County, Karla Webb, owner of the Stafford Ice House, said her business had belonged to the family for 27 years.

“We all own and operate from women,” Webb said.

Known as the “friendliest bar in town,” the business has many familiar faces.

“Our customers are important to us; they are our family, so we don’t want to make them sick and we review what our protocol is, ”said Webb.

Webb chooses not to close despite the order because she and her employees depend on the business to survive.

“We will not survive another closure because the bills will not stop. You still have to pay the bills,” Webb said.

Webb said they will continue their efforts to protect customers.

“Customers are safer here than at the grocery store,” Webb said.

Below is a replay of the Hidalgo press conference: