Lubbock’s Hospitalization Rate Triggers Occupancy Pull-Backs
Sunday, October 25th, marked the 7th consecutive day where Trauma Service Area B, which includes Lubbock, had a COVID-19 hospitalization rate of over 15%.
This means that as per Governor Greg Abbott's Executive Orders, occupancy pull-backs have been triggered.
Businesses whose occupancy rates were increased to 75% will now be reduced back down to 50%. Also, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission will require that bars close to in-person service.
The occupancy reduction will primarily effect restaurants, libraries, event centers and other businesses not listed under the CISA guidance.
In addition to these closures and occupancy reductions, area hospital are now subject to other restrictions which are primarily related to elective medical procedures.
Trauma Service Area A, which also surpassed the 15% COVID-19 hospitalization rate for 7 consecutive days on Saturday, October 24th, is also being subject to occupancy rollbacks. However, Saturday's rate in TSA A did decrease to 18.17% from the previous day's rate of 19.31%.
Trauma Service Area B will remain under these restrictions until it sees a COVID-19 hospitalization rate at or below 15% for 7 consecutive days.
In Governor Abbott's order, he said that:
As Texas reopens in the midst of COVID-19, increased spread is to be
expected, and the key to controlling the spread and keeping Texas residents safe is for all
Texans to consistently follow good hygiene and social-distancing practices, especially
those set forth in the minimum standard health protocols from the Texas Department of
State Health Services.
The Texas Department of State Health Services maintains a dashboard with state, regional, and county level COVID-19 statistics and can be found at mylubbock.info/dshs-covid.
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