A curfew is being imposed in San Antonio and Bexar County as of tomorrow night.
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff announced they were taking the action in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.
They amended local public health orders to impose a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. beginning tonight. The curfew is to run each night through Monday morning.
Mayor Nirenberg said residents may not gather outside their household during these hours, with the exception of seeking services from a business. Violations of the curfew are punishable by up to a $1,000 fine.
Restaurants are to close for dining at 10 p.m. through Sunday night, although they may continue to offer drive-thru, curbside or takeout services after 10 p.m. each night.
The mayor said the city and county were taking the actions because of concerns about a rising number of cases and the risk of continuing to further spread the virus during the holiday weekend. He asked residents to understand why the actions were being taken and urged residents to comply.
“The last two surges in cases followed holiday weekends; in this case, the numbers are already increasing exponentially, so the Judge and I decided to impose a curfew to limit the spread over the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Mayor Nirenberg. “We are counting on each and every San Antonian to take personal responsibility for protecting themselves and others.”
“As Bexar County continues to see higher numbers of daily positive cases and with Thanksgiving coming up, we need take steps to address this head on,” said Judge Wolff. “This curfew isn’t about specific places, it is about people’s behaviors. We know that household gatherings are taking place. We know that as it gets later into the evening, people’s behaviors change. They let their guard down, they take their masks off, they get a little closer than they should. This is when the virus passes from one to another. This limited curfew is aimed to help reduce the impact on our hospital system. We encourage everyone to play it safe this holiday weekend and don’t let your guard down”
Frequently Asked Questions about Thanksgiving Weekend Curfew:
Q: I have to work later than 10 PM. Will I be in violation of the curfew?
A: No. The curfew prohibits social gatherings after 10 PM. Driving home from work is not a
violation.
Q: Does the curfew apply only to outside gatherings?
A: No. Residents are prohibited from gathering with others outside of their household after 10
PM, including inside of a private home.
Q: Can food trucks continue to operate after 10 PM?
A: Yes. Food trucks may offer takeout after 10 PM, but they must ensure people don’t linger or
gather at the site.
Q: Is exercising after 10 PM a violation the curfew?
A: No. Individuals may exercise after 10 PM; however, please note that most City parks have a
closing time. Group exercising after 10 PM could be cited for a violation. The intent of the
curfew is to limit the gathering of people.
Q: Do restaurants need to clear their dining rooms of customers at 10 PM?
A: Enforcement officers will honor a grace period of 30 minutes after closing, but restaurants
should take all reasonable steps to closed their dining rooms by 10 PM, such as stopping the
seating of new customers before 10 PM.
Q: I’m going to a wedding this weekend. If it goes later than 10 PM, can I be cited for a curfew
violation?
A: If the wedding is being held at a private business, such as an event space, attending the
event is not a violation of the curfew. The current state occupancy limitations continue to apply
to businesses.
- Read the amended order