Mayor: San Antonio will restrict all gatherings to 50 or less to help slow coronavirus spread

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg addresses members as the House of Representatives Committee on Public Health concerning the coronavirus threat in Texas on Feb. 10, 2020. Nirenberg plans to issue a new emergency order Monday forbidding public and private gatherings of more than 50 people, he said Monday. less San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg addresses members as the House of Representatives Committee on Public Health concerning the coronavirus threat in Texas on Feb. 10, 2020. Nirenberg plans to issue a new emergency ... more Photo: Tom Reel /Staff Photographer Photo: Tom Reel /Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 96 Caption Close Mayor: San Antonio will restrict all gatherings to 50 or less to help slow coronavirus spread 1 / 96 Back to Gallery

San Antonio will put tighter restrictions on gatherings in the wake of new federal guidelines and confirmation of the city’s third travel-related case of coronavirus, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said Monday.

Nirenberg plans to issue a new emergency order Monday forbidding public and private gatherings of more than 50 people, he said in an interview for the Express-News’ Puro Politics podcast.

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That’s in line with recommendations handed down by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over the weekend. Previously, the local limit was gatherings of more than 500 people.

“We are going to stay ahead of this curve,” Nirenberg said. “I think that’s the way we ultimately delay and contain the virus as best we can, is that we don’t lag behind the best recommendations — and be over-prepared if necessary.”

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Joshua Fechter is a staff writer covering San Antonio city government and politics. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFReports