Coronavirus: Texas Mayors Given Greater Authority On Crowd Sizes

AUSTIN, TX — Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday expanded the ability of mayors and county judges to impose restrictions on outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people as cases of the coronavirus continue to hit record levels.

Previously, limitations were placed to gatherings of up to 500 people, the governor's office noted. Abbott also directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to enact emergency rules that provide strict health and safety standards and procedures related to COVID-19 for child care centers in Texas.

The two actions, Abbott said, are based on data showing an increase in coronavirus transmission stemming from large gatherings and 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 in a prepared statement.

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“Today’s proclamation and emergency rules will aid in that effort in two key ways: allowing restrictions on large gatherings where COVID-19 is easily spread and implementing a statewide standard of infection control for child care centers."

Read Governor Abbott’s proclamation

Bolstered authority to municipal leaders comes on the same day that Texas saw 5,000 new cases of the coronavirus — the biggest single-day increase to date. Abbott recently allowed local officials had the ability all along to impose rules on businesses even as he forbade the issuance of fines to individual residents not wearing protective face coverings. Abbott extolled the virtues of "individual responsibility" In making the wearing of masks optional, even as he consistently urges their use — a recommendation he's intensified amid soaring rates of illness.

Related stories:

• Coronavirus: Texas Sees Record Level 5K New Cases
• Coronavirus: Texas Won't Shut Down Amid Illness Spikes

He reiterated the sentiment on Tuesday as he gave local officials more authority to control the spread of illness: "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 six-feet apart from others.”