CORPUS CHRIST, Texas — While Texas is seeing an uptick in the number of COVID-19 cases, Gov. Greg Abbott said mayors and county judges can impose tighter restrictions on outdoor, public gatherings of more than 100 people. Prior to Tuesday's announcement, this applied only to outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people.
Abbott also said the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will enact stricter novel coronavirus health-and-safety standards for child-care centers across the state.
These decisions come after receiving data that shows the recent increase in COVID-19 cases are a result of large gatherings and transmission in child-care centers.
“These are just some of the steps Texas will take to contain the rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations,” Abbott said. “However, as we face this challenge, there is no substitute for personal responsibility. I urge all Texans to do everything in their power to reduce the transmission of the coronavirus by wearing a face mask, washing their hands often, and staying 6 feet apart from others.”