Governor Abbott Expands Capacity for Many Businesses

Governor Abbott announced in a press conference on September 17 that capacity in many Texas businesses will be allowed to expand next week thanks to steady and significant improvements in COVID-19 trends statewide since their peaks in July.

Here are the highlights:

• Retail, restaurants, office buildings, manufacturing facilities, gyms, museums and libraries may expand to 75% capacity beginning Monday, Sept. 21
• Bars will remain closed
• Nursing homes, assisted living, and other long-term care facilities that do not have an active COVID-19 outbreak may reopen to visitation on Thursday, Sept. 24
• Hospitals in regions with COVID-19-related hospitalizations under 15% will be allowed to resume ordinary, elective surgical procedures

Several other business types will remain at 50% capacity for now, including wedding reception venues, movie theaters, amusement parks and waterparks, bowling alleys, fine arts performance halls, video game facilities, zoos, aquariums, natural cavern,s and more.

Gov. Abbott shared that wearing masks, social distancing, and other CDC-recommended sanitation protocols were responsible for the state’s downtrends in hospitalization and positivity rates and encouraged Texans to continue these important preventative measures.

For a complete list of current restrictions and protocols, visit https://open.texas.gov/.   You can view Gov. Abbott's Executive Order 30 here.