By CNN Staff | March 10, 2021 at 9:17 AM EST – Updated March 11 at 3:15 AM
(CNN) – The state of Texas is officially reopening Wednesday, which includes lifting its COVID-19 mask mandate.
Gov. Greg Abbott’s new executive order reopens all businesses to 100% capacity.
Texas business owners will still have the option to limit capacity or implement their own safety protocols if they choose.
If COVID-19 hospitalizations surge again in any of the 22 hospital regions in Texas, some restrictions could return.
County judges could make that call if hospitalizations surge above 15% in a region for seven straight days.
While they would have the power to reinstate some COVID-19 restrictions, they can’t limit capacity at stores and restaurants to less than 50%.
Health officials have expressed concern about another surge if people don’t continue to wear masks and practice social distancing.
Lifting the COVID-19 restrictions in Texas wasn’t factored into a model that is already projecting 576,000 Americans will die of coronavirus by July 1.
Copyright 2021 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.