Latest COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Prohibits Gatherings of 50 People Or More
March 17, 2020 - San Antonio
Days of Decisions. Mayor Ron Nirenberg issued a third public health emergency declaration after Metro Health confirmed the investigation of a fourth travel-related COVID-19 positive case in San Antonio. Photo: Jade Esteban Estrada.
By Jade Esteban Estrada - Staff Writer, San Antonio Sentinel
On Monday, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District confirmed a fourth travel-related case of COVID-19. In response, Mayor Ron Nirenberg has put into effect a third public health emergency declaration, which strictly prohibits mass gatherings of 50 people or more. San Antonio’s city council will consider extending the seven-day declaration at Thursday’s regularly scheduled meeting.
In the meantime, San Antonians are having to adjust to a new, more isolated way of life.
Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued revised guidelines to help prevent further spread of the coronavirus. The public is strongly urged to avoid social gatherings in groups of ten people or more. Additionally, all bars, restaurants and other public food service locations should place their tables at least six feet away from each other and space bar seating and service for standing patrons in a way that’s consistent with the CDC’s still-evolving guidance.
“I have issued a Declaration of Public Health Emergency Order No. 3 to tighten requirements limiting mass gatherings,” Nirenberg said in a statement.
Unsurprisingly, these orders have already had a devastating effect on the food and beverage industry. Many restaurants are making the shift to drive-through and take-out service as quickly as possible to adapt to what seems to be a new normal in the restaurant business.
“The aggressive steps we have taken to date are preventing, delaying and containing the spread of this virus,” the mayor added. “San Antonians should follow these specific guidelines from health experts so we can stay ahead of the disease. I will implement additional measures if we discover community spread, as recommended by our local public health authorities.”
Yesterday, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported 57 coronavirus cases across 17 Texas counties.
RELATED: San Antonio’s Third Travel-Related Coronavirus Positive Case Confirmed
The fine print of the declaration prohibits all indoor public and private gatherings and outdoor gatherings within an enclosed space of 50 persons or more anywhere in the City of San Antonio beginning at 11:59 p.m. on March 16, 2020.
The current definition of “a mass gathering” is any event that is likely to bring together 50 or more persons at the same time in a single room or other single confined space, such as an auditorium, theatre, stadium (indoor or outdoor), arena or event center, meeting hall, conference center, large cafeteria or any other confined indoor or outdoor space.
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg speaks at San Fernando Cathedral on inauguration day in 2019. Photo: Jade Esteban Estrada.
Although Nirenberg’s declaration sides heavily with the federal guidance that urges the public to avoid social gatherings in groups of more than ten people, it does carry with it some broad exemptions.
For instance, gatherings of people in multiple, separate enclosed spaces in a single building, such as a cinema with several screening rooms, are exempt. A date night at the movies is permitted so long as there are not 50 people present in the theatre at the same time.
For the bustling San Antonio International Airport, it will be business as usual. It will be the same for public and private schools, places of worship and museums. The museum allowance comes with an asterisk: “So long as visitors are generally not within arm’s length of one another for extended periods,” stated the City’s press release.
The mayor’s issuance will not apply to bus stops and transit centers, which means San Antonians who use public transit must be particularly mindful of social distancing. The same is true for office spaces, hotels and residential buildings, which are also exempt.
Grocery stores like H-E-B and shopping malls like North Star Mall also get a free pass, as well as outdoor markets and other retail establishments “where large numbers of people are present but it is unusual for them to be within arm’s length of one another for extended periods,” clarified a City spokesperson.
Although specific CDC guidance rules are in place for bars, restaurants and other public food service locations, they are also exempt.
Hospitals, medical facilities and shelters may continue to be in the spotlight in the coming months. They are also not bound to the emergency declaration.
Jails and detention centers, by their institutional nature, are also exempt.
In all settings, it is recommended that the public follow strict social distancing recommendations, and harm reduction measures, such as hand sanitizer and tissues, should be provided when possible.
The newly confirmed COVID-19 positive patient that is currently being investigated by Metro Health marks the fourth travel-related coronavirus case in San Antonio.
A detailed contact tracing investigation for this individual is already underway and affected individuals will be notified. Metro Health reports that the individual is in “home isolation, away from the public.” This case of COVID-19 is not one that has been categorized as community spread. A community-spread case indicates that infection has been spread from a person who did not have exposure to the illness or a travel history.
“The four cases we have confirmed are all travel-related,” said Metro Health Director Dawn Emerick. “People understandably want to know where these individuals have been within our community. If they have not been anywhere that may have risked exposing the public to the virus, for the privacy of the individuals, we will not be sharing their past locations and activity.”
Emerick seems confident that the efforts of the local community will have an impact on containing the virus.
“Our community can help minimize the spread of the virus by practicing good hygiene habits, social distancing and staying home if they are sick,” she said.
RELATED: First Case of COVID-19 Confirmed in San Antonio
Although many residents are curious to know where they stand with the virus, the newly implemented drive-through testing for COVID-19 is not yet available for the general public. For now, drive-thru testing is only available for first responders and health care workers who meet qualifications for testing. Everyone else must be tested at a laboratory with approval from a doctor. Testing criteria and drive through testing information is being finalized with state and federal officials.
Patients should not contact Metro Health directly to request COVID-19 testing or go to emergency rooms to seek COVID-19 testing. A health care provider, such as a primary care physician or urgent care provider, must order the test.
There are more information resources for the public available. Residents are encouraged to download the Ready South Texas app, available in the iTunes and Google Play stores, to receive updates on the COVID-19 situation in San Antonio. More detailed information for the public is available on their website.
Public service announcements on social distancing, prevention and testing are available in English, Spanish and American Sign Language here.
Jade Esteban Estrada is a staff writer at the San Antonio Sentinel, where he covers public health and other citywide issues. He can be reached at jade@sasentinel.com.