Fort Worth limits crowds to 125, cuts building occupancy in response to coronavirus
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price further limited the size of crowds in the city to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus but shied away from closing bars and restaurants as other cities have done.
In a Facebook Live address Monday evening she announced a previous limit of groups larger than 250 would be reduced to 125, including in buildings. The city will also mandate that building occupancy limits be cut in half. These limits apply to restaurants, bars, event centers, gyms, hotel restaurants, retail stores, theaters, convenience stores, public buildings, plazas, churches and shopping malls. Grocery stores are excluded.
The guidelines go into effect at midnight.
“Right now the best way to help is to stay home,” Price said.
The city is also asking restaurants and bars to encourage take-out and curbside pick-up, remove every other chair at the bar, seat the customers at every other table in a checkerboard pattern and require staff to count the number of customers at each table.
The occupancy limits pertain to employees as well as guests.
Price’s address Monday is the first in a planned series of nightly briefings to be streamed at 6 p.m. on the city’s website and on Price’s mayoral Facebook page. She was joined by Fort Worth Police Chief Ed Kraus, Fire Chief Jim Davis and code director Brandon Bennett.
Price and Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley last week declared a state of emergency amid the outbreak of coroanvirus, which causes a flu-like illness. While young, healthy people may experience mild or no symptoms, the disease, known as COVID-19, is potentially fatal to the elderly and those with health conditions.
Monday’s changes mark an escalation in the city’s tactic to control the outbreak of the new coronavirus, but other cities have taken a more aggressive approach.
The city and county of Dallas limited gatherings to 50 people and closed bars, gyms, health clubs, dine-in restaurants, theaters and commercial amusement businesses.
In making the announcement to further limit person-to-person contact, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins urged Metroplex and state leaders to work together.
“We need our governor and our regional partners to come together,” Jenkins said.
In the Bay Area of California, one of the hardest hit by the virus, six counties imposed mandatory shutdowns and “shelter in place” orders for residents, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut closed bars, restaurants and gyms and banned gathering larger than 50 people, the New York Times reported.
Davis, Fort Worth’s fire chief, said during the mayor’s briefing that the city’s restrictions were designed to keep small business open. The fire department will be responsible for enforcing the new limits.
“If bars and restaurants do not comply, further action may be required,” Davis said.
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 6:55 PM.
