In a move that will further the economic turmoil triggered by the new coronavirus, all of Travis County’s bars and restaurant dining rooms were ordered closed Tuesday as restrictions tightened to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt signed twin orders enacting the restrictions that also will prohibit gatherings of 10 or more people, making Austin one of the first Texas cities to adopt recommendations made by President Donald Trump on Monday. The new restrictions come as the disease claimed its first life in Texas, that of a man in his 90s who died Sunday in Matagorda County, southwest of Houston. Statewide, 64 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. However, presumptive positive cases would raise the statewide total past 100 with cases reported from Texarkana to El Paso. More than 5,000 cases have been reported nationwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. Locally, 17 people in Travis County have tested positive for the virus, and three cases have been reported in Hays County. While none of those cases have been attributed to local person-to-person transmission, Dr. Mark Escott, Austin Public Health interim health authority, said the virus likely has been spread in the Austin community. “Our city and county are at a critical point in time, where we can and should take further steps to mitigate community spread of COVID-19,” Escott said at a briefing Tuesday. “As we look at other cities and states who are experiencing a faster (spread) and have been more impacted by this particular outbreak, it's evident that we need to increase our efforts to keep our residents healthy and safe.” Addressing the pandemic More steps have been taken in recent days to address the growing pandemic. Gov. Greg Abbott activated the Texas National Guard on Tuesday, joining 20 other states that have taken similar measures. Capital Metro announced it was altering its service, and the Austin Police Department announced changes to its operations including discouraging enforcement of nonhazardous driving violations and no longer responding to crashes with no injuries. “By activating the Texas National Guard, we are ensuring Texas is prepared as we continue to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” Abbott said in the statement. “(I) want to assure the public that this is a precautionary measure to make sure the Texas National Guard has the capability to serve at a moment’s notice where they are needed most.” Under the new Austin restrictions, pickup, drive-thru and delivery of restaurant food is still allowed, but dining rooms are closed. The restrictions will remain until May 1. Violating the order carries a $1,000 fine. Exceptions have been put in place to allow for gatherings of 10 or more people in grocery stores, pharmacies, schools, hospitals and other medical facilities, Escott said. READ THE CITY ORDER- Prohibition of Community Gatherings of 10 persons or more and closure of restaurants and bars 3.17.2020 San Marcos also announced Tuesday that all gatherings of more than 10 people were prohibited until April 1. San Marcos bars were ordered to close and restaurants told to take measures to reduce occupancy levels to 10 or fewer, city officials said. The Diocese of Austin also Tuesday evening suspended all Masses, effective immediately, and encouraged parishes to offer video of the Mass online. Parish churches will remain open during normal hours for private prayer and devotionals, while funerals and weddings will be celebrated with only close family and friends in attendance. Economic upheaval The chilling effect the order will have on the Austin area’s economy is undeniable. The Texas Workforce Commission estimated 134,600 people were employed in the local leisure and hospitality sector in January, a figure that amounts to 12% of the area’s workforce, not counting farm workers. Many of those workers, especially hourly employees at bars and restaurants, have no guaranteed paid time off. And a sudden halt in their income could have catastrophic effects on a workforce known to live paycheck-to-paycheck, or in the case of tip-based incomes, shift-to-shift. “When you are tip-based, nothing is promised except cash in hand,” said 32-year-old Danni Button, who was laid off from her bartending job at the Holy Roller downtown Tuesday once the shutdown was announced. “Hoping for some good but preparing for the worst.” Local authorities already have taken some action to mitigate the negative effects of what amounts to an income freeze for thousands. Evictions have been halted in Travis County, and Austin Energy is not shutting off electricity due to unpaid bills. Further action likely will have to come from the state and federal government, Adler said. Button has a side-gig as a freelance writer, but she said she would be naive if she didn’t expect to fall behind on some bills. As the day wore on, layoffs were announced at restaurants and bars across the city. “It’s a rug that just got pulled out from a lot of people,” Button said. Things are bleak for local bars without kitchens. Many don’t have the option of Rainey Street’s Craft Pride — which has a small on-site bottle shop tucked in between its main bar area and outdoor patio — to sell booze to go. Craft Pride announced Tuesday morning that, along with onsite food truck Via 313, it would begin selling beer and pizza for take-out only. Most bars will remain closed without hope of any revenue. The Nickel City bar’s team opted to close a day before the city’s announcement, saying via social media that it was “the safest and best thing we can do for our community,” according to Nickel City’s temporary closure announcement. Travis Tober, co-owner of Nickel City, said that, with bars having to pay sales and liquor taxes soon, and with their rent showing no sign of stopping, “I fully expect 20-40% of places not to reopen.” “We’re all just waiting to hear what the game plan is from the mayor’s office,” he said, referring to steps the city might take to offset the bar industry’s expected massive financial hit. Nothing has been announced, but Adler said some ideas are being discussed about to how the city can assist businesses hit worst by the coronavirus pandemic. “You know, the larger goal here is to help businesses kind of bridge this gap to pay critical expenses until this crisis has passed,” Adler said. “I would now call on vendors and lenders and landlords in our city to recognize that the old rules right now are out the window." Staff writers Arianna Auber and Katie Hall contributed to this report.