Texas continues to re-open the economy in stages and with limits, but those limits are not necessarily being followed.
Videos of a crowded bar pool party in Midtown went viral over the weekend. The Houston Fire Department says they responded to more than 500 overcrowding complaints, but no citations were issued. Mayor Sylvester Turner says the Houston Fire Marshall does have the power to enforce the 25% capacity limit and shut any place down that is in violation.
"There are too many people who are coming together. If a place has too many people in it, the fire marshall does have the power to close them down for that night," Turner said in a reversal of the policy that he put out before the weekend which said there would be no enforcement of the 25% capacity limit. Turner also says that if you were at one of these crowded events you should get tested for COVID-19.
Elsewhere:
- There were ceremonies for Memorial Day to honor those that gave their lives in service of our country. But events at the Houston National cemetery were scaled down because of the pandemic.
- There are more openings on the way. All city-owned tennis courts, golf and disc golf courses will reopen in Houston this coming Monday.This includes the courses at Memorial Park and Hermann Park.
- The Astros have opened up Minute Maid Park and the team complex in West Palm Beach to players for individual workouts.
- There have been 412 deaths because of the virus in the Greater Houston area, but only ten since Friday.