Governor Abbott Announces Additional Texas Openings
Sept. 17, 2020 - Governor Greg Abbott announced additional reopening plans for Texas. The determining factor in reopening is based on the percentage of hospitalizations in each of the state’s 22 regions. If COVID Hospitalizations are less than 15% of all hospitalizations for 7 consecutive days, then that region is safe enough to allow additional openings. The percentage of hospitalizations in the Austin region is 3.7%. Therefore, our region can precede with the additional openings outlined below.
The following business categories that currently have a 50% capacity can increase to a 75% capacity on Monday, Sept. 21:
- All retail stores
- All restaurants
- All office buildings
- All manufacturing
- All Gyms
Effective Immediately:
Hospitals in the Austin region can return to ordinary elective surgical procedures.
Thursday, Sept. 24
Nursing home facilities, assisted living centers, state supported living centers, and other long-term care facilities are allowed to reopen for visitation on Thursday, Sept. 24. They must, however, comply with certain health protocols and there must be no COVID-19 outbreak.
Bars are not allowed to open at this time. Governor Abbott says bars are nationally recognized as COVID-19 spreading locations. He said they are focused on finding ways to get them open.
Governor Abbott added that citizens must continue the following safety practices:
- Staying home if you are sick
- Sanitizing your hands
- Maintaining safe distances
- Wearing a mask
The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Victoria, and Laredo are not allowed to precede with additional openings due to the continued high percentage of COVID-19 Hospitalizations.
