COVID-19 CURFEW IN CAMERON? HELL NO! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

By Juan Montoya

As of noon today, the latest (ninth) Emergency Management Order issued by Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Dec. 2 restricted the number of people who could gather (10), the wearing of face masks, and limited the capacity of bars to 50 percent.

It also required the commercial establishments – bars – to close by 11 p.m. unless the mayor of an incorporated city ordered otherwise and the county judge issued an order for unincorporated areas.

Well, New Year's is here and guess what is happening around the city?

Yup. At least a dozen of the most popular clubs have announced that they will hold New Year's parties until 2 a.m. 

A cursory review of those locales on their social pages – the Dog House, Public House, Adolio's, Cobbleheads, Toscafino's, The Mynt, The Bar, the Library, etc., among others – indicates that they are encouraging partygoers to attend their bars and party until next year.

And what does Treviño say about all this and the approaching new year, curfew-violating festivities in his last press release on COVID-19 today? Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

With all bars in neighboring Hidalgo County and a curfew in place there, it's natural that revelers will simply cross the county lines to party here. That seems to be fine with Eddie.

And the COVID-19 infections?

"County Judge Richard Cortez is livid about Cameron County and Brownsville – never mind South Padre Island – continue to do business as usual while Hidalgo is trying to contain the virus on its own," said a county official. "He is wondering whether it makes any sense to continue with their efforts while next door business goes on as usual."

As an indicator of the laggard response by Cameron County to COVID-19 testing, some people say that they are traveling to McAllen to get tested citing long lines and expensive testing in Brownsville.

"I was willing to pay the $75 to $100 for the test, but the long lines and the expense made me go to Hidalgo County," said one. 

The Texas State Comptroller has reported that since March – when the COVID-19 infections first were reported here – that bars and lounges in South Padre Island and Brownsville had sold the most alcoholic beverages in the Rio Grande Valley. And when Hidalgo County ordered the lockdown and curfew to fight the virus, they zoomed to the top of the list.

Treviño's order for an 11 p.m. curfew and limiting gatherings to 10 persons – as some have pointed out – doesn't take effect until Friday at 12:01 P.M., conveniently after the New Year's bash. 

Since December 23, the county health department has confirmed 785 positive COVID-19 cases.

Wherever you go, look out for yourself and your loved ones. You will be the only one who can protect yourself given the abeyance of our county judge and mayor.