Phase Three of Reopening Texas order going into effect

Texas Governor Abbott’s phase three Reopening Texas order released last week focused mostly on food, drinks and entertainment increasing capacity for a variety of businesses starting Friday, while some went into effect immediately.

Starting last week as many as 10 people, instead of six, can share a table in restaurants and starting Friday such businesses will be allowed to expand from 50 percent capacity to 75 percent.

Also, as of last Wednesday bars would increase their capacity to 50 percent from 25, but customers must be seated to be served.

Sports fans will have a better opportunity to go in to watch professional and college sporting events that are played outdoors with maximum capacity increasing to 50 percent from 25 percent.

Swimming pools, water parks, museums, libraries, zoos and rodeo events are also now allowed to operate at 50 percent.

This change allows Iowa Park Swimming Pool and Spray Park to increase occupancy from 86 people to 173 and Tom Burnett Memorial Library to increase the number of people allowed in the library.

For other entertainment, counties with fewer than 1,000 cases of COVID-19, which would include Wichita County, amusement parks and carnivals can immediately operate at 50 percent.