This podcast is a visit with Brazos County Judge Duane Peters and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Sunday was the seventh straight day the pandemic was responsible for more than 15 percent of hospital populations in the Bryan/College Station region. That triggers new business restrictions.

That includes closing more than 30 bars in Brazos County that generate at least 51 percent of their revenue from alcohol sales.

Brazos County judge Duane Peters, who received the notification Monday from the state health department, says he can not apply to reopen those bars until the hospital occupancy rate falls under 15 percent for seven consecutive days.

Other restrictions according to the city of Bryan website:

Any business establishment that otherwise would have a 75% occupancy limit must operate at up to only 50%.

Surgeries: Elective surgeries, as defined in Executive Order GA-31, must reschedule unless they “would not deplete any hospital capacity needed to cope with the COVID-19 disaster.”

The following activities/services are NOT impacted by these occupancy changes:

Religious services

Local government operations

Childcare services

Public or private schools

Youth camps

Adult or youth recreational sports

Drive-in movies, concerts and similar events

Personal care/beauty establishments with at least six feet of social distancing between work stations

Services listed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in its Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce.