Recent data shows more than 8,900 Texas businesses have permanently closed since Gov. Greg Abbott issued his first statewide shutdown order in March.
Texas places second only to California in the number of business closures brought on by government responses to the Chinese coronavirus, according to Yelp’s Local Economic Impact Report for September 2020.
The state ranks seventh-highest in number of permanent closures per 1,000 businesses.
Yelp found another 5,300 Texas businesses are temporarily closed and struggling to survive.
Nationwide, restaurants account for the greatest number of permanent closures among Yelp-listed businesses, followed by bars and nightlife venues.
Those businesses have been singled out by Texas as “non-essential” since Abbott issued his first COVID-19 mandate on March 19, ordering a statewide lockdown billed as “15 days to slow the spread” of the virus.
The governor has issued 25 “emergency” executive orders since he declared a public health disaster on March 13.
Texans frustrated with Abbott’s unilateral mandates and business-killing decrees are rallying outside the Governor’s Mansion in Austin for a “Free Texas” protest on Saturday, October 10, at 11:00 a.m.
