Abbott should close dining rooms amid COVID-19 spike, House Democrat Coleman says

Gov. Greg Abbott should issue and order moving Texas restaurants back to drive-through, carry-out and curbside delivery only as coronavirus cases continue to spike, said state Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston.

“It would be irresponsible to keep dining rooms open in light of the record-setting spike in COVID-19 cases we continue to see,” Coleman said in a news release.

This past week, Texas saw a record 6,975 new cases in one day, far surpassing its previous high number.

Ahead of the July Fourth weekend, Abbott ordered Texans to wear face masks in public on Thursday and allowed local officials to limit outdoor gatherings to fewer than 10 people

Coleman is the senior ranking member of the Public Health Committee. He said Abbott should also ban on-site dining until the spike in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and positive rates reverses.

People can’t wear a mask while eating which makes the spread of the virus more likely, he said.

“Despite the best efforts of responsible restaurant managers and owners, every day more and more restaurants are being closed, at least temporarily, because their employees are testing positive for COVID-19.”

Coleman said restaurants are stuck in an opening-and-closing cycle that isn’t beneficial.

“The sooner we get serious about halting the spread of the virus, the sooner we will be able to go out to enjoy a meal in our favorite restaurants, operating at full capacity, without fear of contracting COVID-19.”