TEMPLE, TX — During a press conference held September 17, Governor Abbott announced that regions with low hospitalization rates can open restaurants, stores and gyms to 75 percent capacity, beginning Sept. 21.
Though the 25 percent increase sounds impactful, all businesses 25 News spoke to in Bell County explained its not what it sounds like.
"Even if we could go to 75% i know, with being able to maintain the 6 foot distance and social distancing its hard pressed" said Principle Owner and Head Brewer of newly opened Fire Base Brewing Co, JD McBride.
McBride explaining with his brewery adhering to the social distancing guidelines placed into effect, there is little to no room to increase capacity while continuing to adhere to social distancing.
"When you look around here you can we we've spaced tables out as much as we can to get a decent amount of people in here to sustain business...it'll be interesting to see how many businesses can get to there and still remain 6 foot distanced" said McBride.
Meanwhile at Seoul Garden, Owner says they won't be increasing the capacity they've been adhering to since the Governor's order of 50% capacity.
"We're going to have it stay, remain, the same, we want to make sure its safe for the customer" said Na.
Many businesses purely operating as bars have still not been given the go ahead to reopen, since original shutdown.
McBride, whose brewery has been open a total of four weeks since their grand opening in May of this years wishes there was evidence to prove why other businesses are being ordered to remain closed.
"Who can you prove that getting a bag of chips or a basket of fries prevents someone from getting the coronavirus because thats essentially what you've boiled it down to, if you serve food with your alcohol or have it available with your alcohol, you're allowed to stay and remain open and thats been the case the whole time...I mean wheres the study, wheres the information, wheres the data showing that if I have a basket of fries in front of me the coronavirus isn't going to come around?" asked McBride.
As it stands, approximately 12 percent of Texas businesses have permanently closed due to the coronavirus and its economic impact.
