Restaurant capacity expands to 75% under governor's plan as Austin officials worry about COVID-19 surge

Another part of Phase 3 of Gov. Greg Abbott's plan to reopen Texas goes into effect today, which means restaurants can open up to 75% of their full capacity.

The governor's office is staying the course on its reopening plan, even as both new cases and hospitalizations rise locally and across the state.

A portion of Phase 3 was initiated on June 3 when Abbott first announced the executive order. Meanwhile, Mayor Steve Adler and local health officials spoke out this week as new COVID-19 cases surged, showing triple-digit growth, and the city saw an increase in average daily hospitalizations.

The timeline of Phase 3 is as follows:

Effective June 3:

• All businesses currently operating at 25% capacity can expand their occupancy to 50% with certain exceptions.
• Bars and similar establishments may increase their capacity to 50% as long as patrons are seated.
• Amusement parks and carnivals in counties with less than 1,000 confirmed positive cases may open at 50% capacity.
• Restaurants may expand their maximum table size from 6 to 10 persons.

Effective June 12:

• Restaurants may expand their occupancy levels to 75%.
• Counties with 10 or less active COVID-19 cases may expand their occupancy limits to 75%.

Effective June 19:

• Amusement parks and carnivals in counties with more than 1,000 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 may open at 50% capacity.

The order included special standards for outdoor gatherings and celebrations, such as the Fourth of July, relegating those regulations to local officials. It also reminded people to wear face coverings, avoid groups greater than 10 people and avoid nursing homes.