Governor Abbott Opens Texas One Hundred Percent and Ends Face Mask Mandate

Governor Greg Abbott of Texas announced an Executive Order (GA-34) that ends the face mask mandate and allows business to open to 100 percent capacity. This order goes into effect Wednesday, March 10, 2021.

“With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools to protect Texans from the virus,” said Governor Abbott. “We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans by opening Texas 100 percent. Make no mistake, COVID-19 has not disappeared, but it is clear from the recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations, and safe practices that Texans are using that state mandates are no longer needed.”

There have been almost 5.7 million vaccines provided to Texans. The state is doing close to one million shots weekly. By next week, there will be over half of the seniors in the state will be vaccinated. By the end of the month, any senior citizen who wants to get vaccinated should have the option to do so. Accessibility to vaccines grow daily and will allow any Texan to be qualified to receive one soon.

If hospitalization due to COVID-19 rises above 15 percent for 7 days straight, a county judge in that region may use mitigation strategies. Strategies cannot include lowering capacity to less than 50 percent in businesses. Judges do not have jurisdiction to charge jail time due to not following orders or fines for someone not wearing a face mask.

Full article from the Governor’s website is here.