Galveston County is preparing for an expected busy spring break since many COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. Author: Jordan James (12NewsNow), KBMT (12NewsNow) Published: 12:44 AM CST March 13, 2021 Updated: 1:24 AM CST March 13, 2021
BEAUMONT, Texas It s like the calm before the storm, when thousands of people are expected to travel to Galveston County for spring break beginning this weekend.
In search of an escape from reality, tourists have started to flock to Bolivar Peninsula. Just the peace, waves and sun, it s relaxing, Pamela Sweeney said. She said she is visiting from Houston.
Spring break is all about creating memories with loved ones safely since the coronavirus pandemic is still ongoing, she said.
What will happen without a mask mandate across the state of Texas? It might not be good news to many, according to recent data. ABC13 s Keaton Fox breaks down the model projections in the video above.
Support for mask-wearing continues to be strong, according to the data. Three out of four Texans say they support a mandate and would continue to wear masks, even after the mandate went away.
It s too early for full opening, said IHME Director Chris Murray during a CNN interview Tuesday. While signs look good, he says the risk for numbers spiking again is real - as case numbers go up in Texas.
The daily routine at restaurants and bars has involved masking up and wiping down. Now, they re afraid of what s going to happen next. We re going to ask politely, we re not going to make a scene, we re just going to ask and we ll supply you a mask, he said.
Across town at Kenny and Ziggy s Deli, there was a wait outside for lunch on Monday as the restaurant maintained a 50% capacity. Every guest also gets a temperature check before they are even allowed to go inside. I m a business owner. I m a very conservative person, said Ziggy Gruber, a well-known restaurant man in Houston with a big personality. I don t care if you re a conservative or liberal person, this is not about either political side, it s about common sense.
She s in a unique situation. With locations in 44 states, she s already experienced mandates being lifted in other places. And she s noticing trends that point toward a continued demand for safety.
For example, when Florida went to 100% capacity in the fall, they still saw huge online and delivery sales.
“That’s definitely a signal to us that some guests are ready and they want to be there and others still are not,” she said. “What we saw with our guests was that there are varying levels of comfort.”
With the choice of wearing masks now in the hands of both businesses and consumers, business owners are learning the next big challenge right now is finding a new balance.