Texas Rangers stadium opens up at full capacity amid pandemic — and seats 38,000 people strong



The Texas Rangers packed in at least 38,000 fans during Monday night's home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) removed all COVID-19 restrictions in March, including social distancing, capacity limits, and mask mandates.

The Rangers' website stated on Monday that masks were required for all fans at the game "except when actively eating or drinking at their ticketed seats."

What are the details?

Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, fully opened on Monday night, welcoming nearly 40,000 baseball fans to a night of normalcy.

The MLB game was one of the very first full-capacity sporting events that took place in the state since the COVID-19 pandemic shut most everything down in 2020.

According to CNN, the paid attendance at the Monday game was 38,238 — a "sellout," according to Rangers spokesperson John Blake. The stadium capacity is 40,518.

Rangers manager Chris Woodward said that the game "resembled some sort of normalcy" amid the pandemic.

"We were excited, man," he said. "We haven't played in front of any crowd. We played a little bit in Kansas City, a little bit in spring training, but full capacity, it's amazing how quickly we get used to certain things and not having that was, 'Oh, this is what it felt like.'"

Rangers infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa said that the overall feel of the baseball game was like coming home.

"It felt like it was my debut all over again," he said. "It was a good feeling to just have the crowd there cheering us on. I think the introduction when I first came out early in the game, that was probably one of the coolest moments of my career to this date."

Anything else?

During a recent interview with ESPN, President Joe Biden called the decision a "mistake."

"Well, that's a decision they made," he said. "I think it's a mistake. They should listen to Dr. [Anthony] Fauci, the scientists, and the experts. But I think it's not responsible."

Last week, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported that the state saw a seven-day average decrease in the daily number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and coronavirus-related deaths — meaning there has been no apparent coronavirus surge in the state despite Abbott lifting related restrictions.

Washington Post editorial board frets that Texas' removal of COVID-19 restrictions will cripple the state and rest of the country



The Washington Post editorial board on Tuesday blasted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) over his executive order rescinding all COVID-19-related restrictions including ending the statewide mask mandate.

In his remarks, Abbott said that the new directive would go into effect on March 10.

What are the details?

The Washington Post's editorial board castigated the Republican governor for his order ending the state's coronavirus restrictions, saying the move is "gambling with the health of his state and beyond."

Citing recent remarks from Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the outlet insisted that now is not the time for Abbott — or any other lawmaker — to relax restrictions and ease strict mandates.

In Monday remarks, Walensky said, "Please hear me clearly: At this level of cases, with variants spreading, we stand to completely lose the hard-earned ground we have gained. These variants are a very real threat to our people and our progress. Now is not the time to relax the critical safeguards that we know can stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, not when we are so close. We have the ability to stop a potential fourth surge of cases in this country."

"Please stay strong in your conviction," Walensky said. "Continue wearing your well-fitted mask and taking other public health prevention actions that we know work."

The Post's editorial board warned that the country should have learned a lesson in 2020 when some states attempted to lift certain restrictions too soon.

"If there was any lesson from the disastrous push by then-President Donald Trump last year to open up — which triggered a massive Sun Belt surge of infection in Texas, Florida and Arizona — it is not to lift restrictions too soon," the editorial board insisted. "But Mr. Abbott, a Republican whose state was buffeted by a devastating power outage during a winter storm recently, seems determined to forget last year's lessons. He announced Texas can return to full capacity next week as long as local hospitals are not experiencing high levels of covid patients."

"The governor issued an executive order saying that except in high hospitalization areas 'there are no COVID-19-related operating limits for any business or other establishment,'" the outlet continued. "While local officials can demand some limits below 100 percent, they cannot order establishments to close to less than 50 percent, and no jurisdiction can impose a penalty of any kind for failure to wear a face mask."

The editorial board concluded by pointing out that while Abbott's decision may cheer and embolden "those feeling rebellious, fatigued, and impatient with the year-long pandemic restrictions," the result of a premature complete opening "will be viral spread and more suffering."

"Only 12.9 percent of the Texas population has received one or more doses of vaccine," the board wrote. "They and others previously sickened may enjoy some immunity, but a huge swath of the state's population remains vulnerable. The winter holidays and the third surge were awful. A fourth surge — which could spread beyond Texas — is the last thing the country needs just as vaccines are being rolled out. Mr. Abbott is throwing a match on kindling."

Although Texas, Florida, and Arizona were singled out by the Washington Post editorial board for their policies, those three states rank 24th, 28th, and 7th nationally in number of COVID cases per 100,00 residents as of March 2, 2021. Those rates compare favorably to states that have maintained strict lockdown policies throughout the pandemic like California (22nd), Delaware (23rd), and Rhode Island (3rd).

Texas drops coronavirus restrictions, opens all businesses 100%, ends statewide mask mandate



Texas is fully reopening and the statewide mask mandate will be rescinded this week, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced Tuesday.

"Effective next Wednesday, all businesses of any type are allowed to open 100%," the governor said at a news conference announcing an end to restrictions imposed to slow the spread of COVID-19. Abbott said declining hospitalization rates across the state and increased distribution of virus vaccines were reasons to end the coronavirus restrictions.

@PatrickSvitek @GovAbbott Here is Gov. Abbott's announcement to open Texas and end the mask mandate https://t.co/3RyGdMVXvD
— The Recount (@The Recount)1614715696.0

"Texas is in a far better position now than when I issued my last executive order back in October," Abbott explained.

He indicated that if a private business still wishes to limit its capacity or enforce other virus safety precautions, the business would be free to do so without a government mandate.

"It is their business, and they get to choose to operate their business the way they want to," Abbott said. "At this time, however, people and businesses don't need the state telling them how to operate."

NEW: Issuing an executive order to lift the mask mandate and open Texas to 100 percent. https://t.co/P4UywmWeuN
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@Gov. Greg Abbott)1614715821.0

Earlier Tuesday, Abbott reported a new record number of 216,000 Texans were vaccinated against COVID-19 in a single day, noting that Texas is now distributing more than 1 million vaccine doses per week.

"This is a big reason why hospitalizations are at the lowest level in four months," the governor tweeted.

Today Texas will report a new one day record for the number of people receiving vaccines—more than 216,000.We are… https://t.co/yZ7PhvCecj
— Greg Abbott (@Greg Abbott)1614702993.0

Under Abbott's previous executive orders, Texas businesses were required to keep their occupancy at or below 75%. In areas where 15% of available hospital bed occupancy were taken up by coronavirus patients, legal max occupancy was reduced to 50%.

The new executive order will permit businesses to open at 100% occupancy, though it gives local officials in areas where COVID-19 cases are high the ability to implement "COVID mitigation strategies" at the local level.

"If COVID hospitalizations in any of the 22 hospital regions in TX rise above 15% of the hospital bed capacity in that region for 7 straight days, then a county judge in that region may use COVID mitigation strategies in their county," Abbott said.

"However, under no circumstance can a county judge put anybody in jail for not following COVID orders," he added. "And no penalties can be imposed for failing to wear a mask."

As Texas moves to reopen, federal health officials are warning states that it is still too early to lift coronavirus restrictions as new variants of the contagious disease are not fully understood by health experts.

"Please hear me clearly: At this level of cases with variants spreading, we stand to completely lose the hard-earned ground we have gained," U.S. Centers for Disease Control Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Monday. "I am really worried about reports that more states are rolling back the exact public health measures we have recommended to protect people from Covid-19."

According to the Austin American-Statesman, more than 3.5 million Texans have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, amounting to about 12.7% of the state's total population. Nearly 1.9 million people are fully vaccinated.

State Democrats are begging the governor to keep the statewide mask mandate in place.

"To prevent additional struggles and suffering, we need consistency and clarity, not carelessness and confusion," said state Rep. Richard Peña Raymond in a letter addressed to Abbott. "If we all do our part to wear face coverings, we can ultimately get back to business and realize a return to normalcy."

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) applauded the governor's decision.

"With greater access to vaccinations, better treatment options, and decreasing hospitalizations rates, the Texas approach empower citizens to exercise personal responsibility about their health in the fight against COVID-19," Phelan said in a statement.

Tom Williams/Getty Images

Rep. Dan Crenshaw calls on Texas businesses and law enforcement to defy lockdown triggered by spiking hospitalizations



Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas called on businesses to defy a lockdown order and for law enforcement to refuse to enforce it after a spike in coronavirus hospitalizations in the Houston area triggered a shutdown.

Crenshaw was responding to a report in the Houston Chronicle that hospitalizations from the coronavirus in Harris County had grown to more than 15% capacity for the seventh day in a row. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered that regions that exceed this metric would go into renewed lockdown conditions.

"Absolutely not. Businesses should not comply. Lockdowns are not supported by law, they are unconstitutional edicts," tweeted Crenshaw.

Absolutely not. Businesses should not comply. Lockdowns are not supported by law, they are unconstitutional edict… https://t.co/zbK7iRgC73
— Dan Crenshaw (@Dan Crenshaw)1609884102.0

"Law enforcement should not enforce this. Stop stealing people's right to make a living," he added.

Under Abbott's order, bars would be closed and restaurants would reduce occupancy from 75% to 50% in nine counties once the triggering conditions were met. Elective surgeries would also be barred at hospitals within the affected zone.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo tweeted about the lockdown guidelines on Tuesday.

NEW: The Harris County region officially crossed the state's hospitalization threshold triggering #COVID19 reopenin… https://t.co/cakGXbSCah
— Lina Hidalgo (@Lina Hidalgo)1609884170.0

"Honestly, this is just another milestone on the road to a catastrophe unless each of us acts. We can't rely on a small occupancy rollback. Do your part," tweeted Hidalgo.

KHOU-TV reported that doctors at Houston Methodist Hospital are expecting that the latest surge in coronavirus hospitalizations won't crest and decrease for several weeks.

While vaccinations against the coronavirus have begun being administered across Houston, experts say the vaccinations won't quell the current surge of cases and hospitalizations.

An estimated 12,961 people are currently hospitalized in the entire state of Texas, the highest number of the pandemic period.

Here's more about the surge in the Houston area:

Houston-area counties hit hospitalization threshold, triggering reopening rollbackswww.youtube.com

Gov. Greg Abbott says there will be no more more lockdowns in the state of Texas



Gov. Greg Abbott said despite the increased numbers of coronavirus cases in Texas, he will not order any new lockdown in his state.

"We are not going to have any more lockdowns in the state of Texas," Abbott said to a Dallas radio host on Thursday.

"Our focal point is gonna be working to heal those who have COVID," he explained, "get them out of hospitals quickly, make sure they get back to their normal lives."

Abbott had issued a statewide mask mandate for the state on July 2 after a spike in virus cases and hospitalizations.

That order called for "all Texans to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth in public spaces in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases, with few exceptions."

At that time, the state had recorded 8,000 new cases of the virus in a single day and was experiencing a spike. On Tuesday, the state recorded 10,826 new daily cases.

Hospitalizations due to the coronavirus have also increased since the first lockdown orders in June and July. At that time, Texas had seen 5,102 hospitalizations due to the virus, but four months later the state has more than 7,400 hospitalizations from coronavirus.

Abbott has said during recent radio interviews that the state will focus on treatments for coronavirus including Bamlanivimab, which will be sent to Texas hospitals, as well as Regeneron antibody cocktail.

"COVID-19 antibody therapy medicine will be distributed next week to hospitals across Texas," Abbott tweeted on Friday.

"It has been shown to prevent hospitalizations in some patients when used before they become very sick," he added. "There will be no cost to patients."

Epidemiology professor Rajesh Nandy told KPRC-TV that although the rise in coronavirus statistics was alarming, the public appeared to be suffering from "COVID fatigue" and that there wasn't enough public will to support another lockdown.

Here's a news report about the governor's comments:

Gov. Abbott: No lockdowns during Texas COVID-19 surge | KVUEwww.youtube.com