Within hours of Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement that most county judges may allow bars to operate at 50 percent capacity effective October 14, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins (D) indicated on social media that the county’s bars would indeed not be reopening.

“Regarding opening bars in Dallas County: I will not file to open them at this time. Below is the current guidance from the Public Health Committee and [the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department],” Jenkins tweeted on Wednesday afternoon. “We are in orange but our numbers are increasing (Badl) (sic). I will listen to everyone but will follow the science.”

Jenkins criticized Abbott on Monday after the governor suggested on social media that he would be relaxing COVID-19 rules.

“Unfortunately, we are now seeing an increase in daily new cases and hospitalizations in North Texas after the Governor increased occupancy limits in opened business,” Jenkins said.

This is not the first time the governor has lifted his bar closure mandate. Abbott moved to open bars in May, but then instructed that they close again in June.

Abbott’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has been criticized by both the left and the right.

“It’s becoming increasingly clear Texas will never open with [Abbott] as Governor,” Rep. Matt Rinaldi (R-Irving) said Wednesday on social media. “He has the same worldview as [California Gov. Gavin Newsome (D)], that Government has the ability to eliminate Covid through bureaucratic limitations on business & mask mandates, while ignoring harm.”

The Texas Bar and Nightclub Alliance also condemned Abbott’s announcement in a statement.

“We are extremely shocked by the announcement made today. When other Governors around the country, like Ron DeSantis, continue to lead and set a course for economic and social recovery for their states, today our Governor punted,” the statement read. “Texas bars and nightclubs are now the official scapegoat of the pandemic.”