Bexar County Judge Wolff’s Executive Order for Bexar County

December 28, 2020

On Monday, 28 December 2020, Bexar County Judge Nelson W. Wolff issued Executive Order NW-19 providing additional guidelines to residents and businesses in the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Bexar County.  The new order has extended all previous Executive Orders remain in effect until 11:59 PM on January 10, 2021.

Executive Order NW-19 also includes new restrictions beyond what was previously ordered.  In short, the new restrictions include, but are not limited to the following:

1. 50% occupancy for museums and libraries, sporting events and amusement parks.  These businesses must have a Health and Safety Plan in place for employees and visitors to include face coverings, six feet of separation or social distancing, and temperature/symptom screenings.
2. Dine-in services at restaurants is limited to 50% occupancy.
3. Bars without food service cannot have on-premises sales of alcoholic drinks
4. Temporary halt of all residential evictions as provided for in the CDC Order dated 04 September 2020. This applies only for those Covered persons within the CDC Order.
5. No occupancy limitation (but should implement mitigating measures such as masks and social distancing):

• Any services listed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity
• and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in its Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce (including grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, pet stores, Walmart/Target Superstores, gun stores, shooting ranges)
• Religious services
• Local government operations
• Child-care services
• Youth camps
• Recreational sports programs for youths and adults
• Any public or private schools, and any public or private institutions of higher education, not already covered above
• Drive-in concerts, movies, or similar events, under guidelines that facilitate appropriate social distancing, that generally require spectators to remain in their vehicles, and that minimize in-person contact between people who are not in the same household or vehicle
• With 6ft between each workstation, cosmetology salons, hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, massage establishments or other facility where licensed massage therapists practice, and other personal care or beauty services such as tanning salons, tattoo studios, piercing studios, hair removal studios, and hair loss treatment or growth services

Each person or business owner is encouraged to read Executive Order NW-19 in its entirety to determine if and how it affects them individually. Businesses that intend to remain open to the public for curbside/pick-up/delivery service should consider contacting their insurer or legal counsel to determine how best to ensure compliance with the CDC recommendations and this Executive Order. To view the CDC recommendations, visit  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. 

The Bexar County Executive Orders are subject to change and extension based on the status of COVID-19 in Texas and the recommendations of the CDC.