Health official orders grocery stores in San Angelo to no more than 100 people at a time

SAN ANGELO — An official with the Tom Green County Public Health Authority issued six new requirements to combat the spread of COVID-19, one of which ordered all grocery stores in San Angelo be limited to no more than 100 people at a time, according to a news release.

On Saturday, March 28, 2020, Dr. James Vretis issued the following statement:

"All grocery and building supply stores located in San Angelo, Texas ... shall by noon on March 29, 2020 comply with the following requirements:

No more than 100 customers at a time shall be allowed in the store. Stores may have only one controlled entrance into the facility that is manned by a person whose responsibility it is to ensure no more than 100 customers are present at any one time. (This person will) ensure that at all times customers are queued in such a manner that there is at least 6 feet of space between each person. Stores shall take extra measures to sanitize common surfaces including but not limited to carts, baskets, credit card machines, check-out lanes, restroom door handles, sink faucets. All employees shall ensure they maintain proper hygiene through frequent hand-washing. Any employee who is exhibiting any symptoms of illness shall be sent home.

Vretis said people who fail to follow the aforementioned health orders could be subject to prosecution under a Class B Misdemeanor for breaking the Texas Health and Safety Code.

More: Quarantined in San Angelo: local woman shares her story amid the COVID-19 outbreak

On March 16, Mayor Brenda Gunter declared a public health emergency in San Angelo and issued a news release in which more than 50 people gathered in one space, whether in a public or private space, were banned until further notice.

Before Saturday, March 28, grocery stores and building supply stores were exempt from customer limits.

The city's ban is more lax than guidelines provided by President Donald Trump who encouraged residents to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people and said bars, restaurants, food courts and discretionary travel should be avoided in early March. Other Texas municipalities have limited grocery and hardware stores to no more than 50 people at a time.

Gov. Greg Abbott said last week such decisions are left to leadership at the city and county levels, who he said are best able to judge the needs of their communities. He has resisted sweeping statewide shelter-in-place restrictions.

More: How can Texans slow the spread of COVID-19?

John Tufts covers enterprise and investigative topics in West Texas. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. Consider supporting West Texas journalism with a subscription to GoSanAngelo.com.