In an announcement Wednesday, Governor Greg Abbott laid out his “Phase III” for the reopening of the Texas economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The phase, constructed by Abbott’s office and the Strike Force to Open Texas, will immediately allow virtually all businesses throughout the state to operate at 50 percent occupancy capacity. Abbott’s office said Wednesday that there are “very limited exceptions” to the rule.
Highlights of the new phase include:
-Beginning June 12, any business in a county with 10 or fewer active cases of COVID-19 previously open at 50 percent capacity can increase to 75 percent. As of Thursday morning, there are five active cases of COVID-19 in Freestone County, meaning county businesses can increase to the 75 percent mark starting June 12 if the active case number stays at or below 10.
-Restaurants will be allowed to increase table size from six people to 10. Starting June 12, restaurants can increase occupancy capacity to 75 percent.
-Outdoor events, such as July 4th celebrations and other large outdoor gatherings with estimated attendance of 500 people or more, are permissible to hold. County judges and mayors, in coordination with local public health authorities, will evaluate and may make changes to such events based on health factors.
-Bars, previously capped at 25 percent occupancy capacity, can now go up to 50 percent, as long as customers remain seated.
-Outdoor professional sporting events will be allowed to operate at 50 percent occupancy capacity, an increase from 25 percent.
-Outdoor collegiate sporting events will be allowed to resume with 50 percent capacity.
-Video game facilities, such as arcades, may operate up to 50 percent listed occupancy. Facilities must ensure at least six feet of social distancing between operating machines.
-Fine Arts Performance Halls may operate indoors up to 50 percent listed occupancy. Outdoor halls have no occupancy limit, but six feet of distancing is needed and groups cannot exceed 10 people.
-On-set and on-location media production may operate, provided they can ensure at least six feet of social distancing and comply with other safety recommendations.
-Amusement parks in counties with 1,000 or more cumulative COVID-19 positive cases may operate up to 50 percent of normal operating limits, as determined by the park operator, beginning June 19. Counties with fewer than 1,000 cumulative positive cases may operate amusement parks at 50 percent immediately.
“The people of Texas continue to prove that we can safely and responsibly open our state for business while containing COVID-19 and keeping our state safe,” Abbott said in a statement.