AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- New restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 for the New Year's holiday will limit dine-in food services in Austin and Travis County between 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. this holiday weekend, officials announced late Tuesday.
In a move aimed at closing what local health leaders have called a "loophole" allowing bars to operate as restaurants, the new orders from the City of Austin and Travis County will prohibit any venue serving food and drink from offering dine-in operations between 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. each night, beginning on Thursday, December 31 and continuing through the morning of Sunday, January 3.
Under state rules, many bars have been able to reclassify as restaurants by offering on-site food services. Dr. Mark Escott, interim health authority for Austin and Travis County, has repeatedly cited "bars operating as restaurants but still functioning as bars" as one of the biggest concerns he has in fighting the spread of COVID-19 locally. Bars that are still classified as bars under the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission rules remain closed in Travis County.
City and county officials are scheduled to hold a press conference announcing the new orders Wednesday morning at 10 a.m.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Attorney General's Office both responded to the announcement on Twitter late Tuesday night, calling the new order a violation of Abbott's statewide executive orders.
The new orders apply to any venue serving food or drink from an onsite kitchen, food truck, or catering service. There are no changes to dine-in operations between 6 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. daily.
"We are asking the public to stay home as much as possible and not gather with people outside their households for New Year's Eve," Escott said in a statement. "We are asking people to only go out to restaurants for take away, delivery, or drive through services. We are now experiencing uncontrolled widespread community transmission of COVID-19, particularly in circumstances where masking and distancing are not possible, making bars and similar establishments extremely concerning over this holiday weekend."
Food vendors are permitted to continue to offer drive-thru, curbside pick-up, take-out, and delivery services during the hours of 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily.
Individuals who see a business operating with dine-in service past 10:30 p.m. between Dec. 31 and Jan. 3 should report the violation to Austin 3-1-1.
A violation of the orders is a misdemeanor charge, punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000.
