Governor Greg Abbott held a press conference on Friday, April 17 where he issued executive orders to begin the process of reopening the state of Texas while revising hospital capacity and certain social distancing guidelines.

Elements of his three executive orders included:

• Reopening state parks on April 20 with the requirement that people wear masks and practice social distancing. Groups larger than five are prohibited from gathering in the parks.
• Effective April 24, retail stores will be allowed to sell using a to-go model.
• On April 27, certain surgical restrictions will be loosened. During his press conference, he cited procedures intended to diagnose cancer as an example.
• He announced the formation of a new “Strike Force” that will work to put out more advisories after April 27.
• Schools were closed through the end of the 2019-2020 academic year and tighter restrictions have been placed on senior living centers.

To read the three executive orders, click the links below:

GA-15, relating to hospital capacity during the COVID-19 disaster

GA-16, relating to the first steps of 'Open Texas'

GA-17, relating to the creation of the new 'Strike Force'