SAN ANTONIO -- As the efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus escalate, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg Wednesday issued a fourth emergency declaration that temporarily closes all city bars, restaurants and non-essential businesses.
This includes lounges, nightclubs, taverns, private clubs, gyms or health studios, indoor commercial amusement businesses, bowling alleys, bingo parlors and theaters. There will be exceptions for pickup, drive-thru and delivery, however.
The mayor’s original lasts seven days. City Council has the power to extend it for 30 days. The extension is on Thursday’s agenda.
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“It is important for all of us to remain calm and follow the guidelines provided by public health professionals and health care providers,” said Nirenberg. “By working together and avoiding behavior that endangers others in the community over the next several weeks, we will get through this as quickly as possible.”
Below is a list of businesses that are exempt from the declaration:
- San Antonio International Airport
- Public or private schools or child care facilities
- Places of worship
- Funeral homes
- Museums (so long as visitors are generally not within arm’s length of one another for extended periods)
- Spaces where 50 or more persons may be in transit or waiting for transit, such as bus stops
- Office spaces
- Hotels
- Residential buildings
- Grocery stores, shopping malls, outdoor markets or other retail establishments