Houston area officially crosses hospital threshold that triggers reopening of cancellations

HOUSTON –The Houston area officially crossed the hospital threshold on Tuesday that triggers a decline in reopenings for the area, and the state sent letters to county judges advising them of the requirement.

Data from the Texas Department of State Health Services shows that coronavirus-related hospitalizations in the trauma service area Q, which includes Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties, were over 15% during seven consecutive days. This triggers a provision in Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s reopening order that, among other things, requires bars to close and restaurants to reduce capacity to 50%.

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

A DSHS spokesperson said the order takes effect immediately.

It would be the same restorations that were instituted in Galveston and Brazoria counties, which are in the trauma service area R, just before Christmas.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said she expected Tuesday’s numbers to push the region past the threshold.

“It’s a wake-up call for us,” Hidalgo said.

The judge said people should take the situation seriously and take action to change the trajectory of the numbers. She said that means people should wear their masks, stay home as much as possible, wash their hands, avoid gatherings and get tested.

“Each of us knows the drill,” Hidalgo said. “We already have. We have to start over. “

Bar owners concerned about their survival

A bar transformed into a restaurant in north Houston, Mel’s Place, said cutting capacity to 50% would be devastating for its small business, which is already struggling to cope.

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

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

Stella Birchfield, the head bartender at Mel’s Place, said she chose to retire from her other job and spent years working at the bar, dealing with repeat customers.

“It’s my house. I retired from the county and it’s home that I have all my people here – my family. It just means a lot to me, ”Birchfield said.

Miles away in Fort Bend County, Karla Webb, owner of Stafford Ice House, said her business has been in the family for 27 years.

“We are all owned and managed by women,” Webb said.

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

“Our clients are important to us; they are our families, so we don’t want to make them sick and we are going over our protocol,” said Webb.

Webb chooses not to close despite the order because she and her employees depend on the company for survival.

“We won’t survive another shutdown because the bills won’t stop. You still have to pay your bills, ”Webb said.

Webb said he would continue his efforts to keep customers safe.

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

You can watch a replay of Hidalgo’s press conference below: