GOV. ABBOTT LIFTING STATE COVID-19 MANDATES EFFECTIVE NEXT WEDNESDAY

  

Governor Greg Abbott is rescinding COVID-19 restrictions on business capacity and ending the statewide mask mandate.

Abbott announced this (Tuesday) afternoon that, starting next Wednesday, all types of businesses will be allowed to open up to full capacity and the mask order will be lifted.

Abbott said he believes it is time to “open Texas 100 percent,” and that “people and businesses don’t need the state telling them how to operate.”  He said the state is in “far better position now” to deal with COVID-19 than it was several months ago, but he also acknowledged that removing the state mandates “does not end personal responsibility.”

Abbott also announced that vaccine production is increasing to the point that the state will soon expand the categories of Texans who are eligible to receive vaccines.  In addition, he said within a few months, any Texan who wants to get vaccinated will be able to do so.

Abbott reiterated that any business that wishes to retain capacity limits is free to do so.  He also said if COVID-19 hospitalizations in any hospital region rise above 15 percent of total capacity for seven straight days, a county judge in that region may use mitigation strategies.  However, any restrictions imposed may not include reducing capacity to less than 50 percent for any entity.