The Texas mask’s term ends today. Here are the current coronavirus rules.

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The statewide Texas mask mandate ended on March 10th. Companies are also allowed to operate at full capacity as long as hospitals in their region have not been treating a large proportion of patients for COVID-19. Gov. Greg Abbott announced he was releasing those restrictions, so “Texas businesses and families are free to determine their own destiny.”

Health officials still stress the importance of wearing face masks to contain the spread of the virus, along with hand washing and social distancing. Several Democratic leaders called the executive order “dangerous,” including President Joe Biden, who said it was a “big mistake” to end the term of the mask. In addition, three of Abbott’s four coronavirus medical advisers say they were not consulted directly before the warrant was lifted.

Abbott said the state is in a “completely different position” from last year, with more access to testing, successful treatments, protective equipment and vaccines. Still, Texas is still descending from a strong winter wave that killed thousands and overwhelmed intensive care units across the state. Abbott’s decision to relax the restrictions was announced, as Texas averaged more than 200 deaths a day and Houston reported the presence of all variants of COVID-19, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Here’s a look at the meaning of the loose restrictions for jeans:

• Statewide, masks will no longer be required in public for the first time since last summer. Abbott made face-offs mandatory for most jeans on July 2nd. While more than 30 states still require masking, Texas is the most populous state that does not require them. But federal, state and local health officials say masks still need to be worn and other precautions should be taken to curb the spread of the virus.
• School boards, courts and university campuses may still require masks. Local governments may also require them at their facilities. Masks are still required on federal property, public transportation, and public schools. Days after Abbott’s announcement, leaders in Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and El Paso announced that masks will be required to enter urban-owned indoor spaces, such as libraries, police headquarters and firefighters, convention centers and transportation centers.
• Legal protections for applying the use of masks have been significantly reduced according to the order: county judges and local officials cannot imprison or impose sanctions on those who refuse to wear a mask nor do they penalize companies that do not force them to use them. However, they can still enforce the offending ordinances.
• Austin and Travis County Public Health Leaders they say they will continue to require residents to wear masks in public. But officials did not say how they will enforce the order. If Austin tries to enforce its mask rule, it could establish a new legal confrontation between the state and its capital.
• Many employers have said they will need masks, while others feel powerless to enforce this rule. Some companies have already faced the reaction.
• Companies can return to 100% capacity, but can limit its capacity or enforce security protocols “at their discretion.” according to Abbott’s last order. This directive states that companies may require employees or customers to wear masks. HEB, ALDI, Kroger and Target are some of the companies that will still need masks. As of Tuesday, Walmart had not posted updated guidelines after the announcement; its current policy still requires in-store masking.
• Officials a areas with a high proportion of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 may reduce commercial operations. Local officials may limit business operations to 50% of capacity if more than 15% of the hospital capacity in their region is used to treat patients with COVID-19 for seven consecutive days or more. If this threshold is met or exceeded, there will be no automatic restrictions; local officials must issue them.
• Prisoner visits to municipal and municipal prisons can be resumed for the first time since Abbott declared a public health disaster last year, providing some relief to Texas inmates. Visits must be scheduled in advance and only one adult can visit them at a time. A negative test result and face masks will be required and no physical contact will be allowed.
• Everyone state parks begin the process to return to full capacity, according to a state parks press release. Director Rodney Franklin still encourages visitors to wear face coatings, especially indoors, and social distance. Most parks have expanded capacity, but others may have some capacity limits or are still recovering from the February winter storm. Many parks are expected to reach capacity for both campers and daytime visitors during rush hour, according to a state parks press release, which was common before the pandemic.

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