New mandates for businesses as Bexar County sees a one-day increase of 1,268 in coronavirus cases

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) – Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff has issued new mandates for businesses as the number of coronavirus cases increased by 1,268 on Tuesday, bringing the total since the pandemic started to to 12,065.

San Antonio Metro Health announced 85 more hospitalizations for a total of 966.   Twenty-three percent of staffed hospital beds are available, as well as 59 percent of ventilators.  Dr. Colleen Bridger, acting director of San Antonio Metro Health, says additional nurses will start arriving Wednesday to help handle the increasing caseload of COVID-19 patients at local hospitals.

Wolff announced that local businesses will have additional health and safety protocols to abide by.

In addition to requiring that employees and customers wear a face covering when social distancing is not possible, businesses that provide goods and services have to question their patrons concerning possible symptoms, and check their temperature before allowing them to enter the building. Businesses that do not comply may be fined $1,000.

Wolff continued to urge area residents to avoid social and private gatherings during the upcoming Fourth of July weekend.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg reported one new death Tuesday, a Hispanic man in his 80s.

“This is a very serious situation and we need everyone’s attention on the things that we must do to get a handle on this pandemic here in San Antonio,” said Nirenberg.

The mayor also  issued an addendum to his 8th Public Health Emergency Declaration prohibiting large gatherings of more than 100 people effective at noon Thursday.

Exceptions to the order include:

1. 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
2. Religious services
3. Local government operations
4. Child-care services
5. Youth camps

The following excepted activities must still implement a Health and Safety Policy to include pre-screening of symptoms and temperature checks and must use face coverings where physical distancing is not possible:

6. Recreational sports programs for youths and adults
7. Professional, collegiate, or similar sporting events
8. Swimming pools
9. Water parks
10. Museums and libraries
11. Zoos, aquariums, natural caverns, and similar facilities
12. Rodeos and equestrian events
13. Amusement parks and carnivals

The addendum also states that everyone at least 10 years of age “shall wear a face cloth over their nose and mouth when in a public place where it is difficult to keep six feet away from other people,”  but there is no fine for not doing so.

You can read the revised Public Health Emergency Declaration here. 

The City of San Antonio will continue to monitor the warning and progress indicators as outlined at covid19.sanantonio.gov to determine whether additional mitigation measures are necessary.