Dallas County closes adult businesses after Gov. Abbott fails to respond to request
Dallas County is temporarily closing topless bars, sexually-oriented businesses and cigar bars on Friday after failing to hear back from Gov. Greg Abott’s office.
In Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins urged Abbott to close such businesses in a press release on Thursday and Dallas County sent a letter to Texas officials asking for permission to close such businesses to help slow the spread of COVID-19. As of Friday afternoon, the county had not heard back from Abbott’s office.
“We continue to see businesses operate where masks are not possible 100 percent of the time and, pursuant to the recommendations of our public health experts, ask the Governor to close these businesses,” Jenkins said in a Thursday release. “In the time of COVID-19, there is no reason for traditional bars to be closed but topless bars and cigar bars to remain open.”
Jenkins told KDFW/Ch. 4 the decision was made because face coverings were not being worn at all times at said establishments. Gov. Abbott ordered face coverings statewide several weeks ago in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus during a surge in cases in July.
Code compliance officers visited multiple businesses several times in an effort to get them to comply, but the operators did not cooperate, Jenkins said.
Estimated active cases over time
Coronavirus daily active case estimates by local counties in the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex, beginning April 8, 2020. Data provided by Texas Health and Human Services.
