Gov. Abbott Announces Temporary Pause Of Additional Reopening Phases

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the State of Texas will pause any further phases to open Texas as the state responds to the recent increase in positive COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

Businesses that are permitted to open under the previous phases can continue to operate at the designated occupancy levels and under the minimum standard health protocols provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Gov. Abbott also issued an executive order Thursday, which immediately suspends all elective surgeries in four of Texas’s largest counties: Travis, Bexar, Dallas and Harris.

The order is made in an effort to preserve hospital capacity as COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise. 

“As we experience an increase in both positive COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, we are focused on strategies that slow the spread of this virus while also allowing Texans to continue earning a paycheck to support their families,” said Governor Abbott. “The last thing we want to do as a state is go backward and close down businesses. This temporary pause will help our state corral the spread until we can safely enter the next phase of opening our state for business. I ask all Texans to do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a mask, washing their hands regularly, and socially distancing from others. The more that we all follow these guidelines, the safer our state will be, and the more we can open up Texas for business.”