Texas sports fans will soon be allowed to attend outdoor pro games, Gov. Greg Abbott says

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In a new proclamation, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that fans will be allowed at outdoor professional sporting events in most Texas counties with limited occupancy, under a new expansion of his most recent wave of economic reopenings.

Starting Friday, all Texas counties — excluding Deaf Smith, El Paso, Moore, Potter and Randall counties — will be able to host in-person spectators for outdoor sports in venues as long as visitors are capped at 25% capacity. Leagues will first have to apply to — and receive approval from — the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Under the revised rule, fans are still banned from attending indoor sporting events in person. The rule does not address college or high school athletics.

Abbott had already allowed certain professional sports — basketball, baseball, car racing, football, golf, softball and tennis — to resume in Texas starting May 31. He'd initially said those games would go on without fans in the stands.

The revised order was issued Friday, according to Abbott's office, and while it was subsequently posted on the Texas Department of State Health Services website, the governor's office did not publicize it. The Austin American-Statesman first reported on the existence of the revised order Thursday morning, after which Abbott's office posted it on his website.

His latest announcement comes nearly a week after the governor said the state is working to start the college football season on time, with at least some enthusiasts in attendance.

“If you want a prediction, my prediction is yes, we are gonna have college football beginning as scheduled ... with at least some level of fans in stands,” Abbott said Friday in an interview with KXAN-TV in Austin.

The health agency’s protocols for adult recreational sports participants include a recommendation of wearing face masks during sporting events and practices, screening individuals for symptoms of COVID-19, and using and carrying hand sanitizers.

Spectators, meanwhile, are encouraged to avoid being in groups larger than 10, maintain a 6-foot distance from others when possible and wear cloth face coverings.

Regular COVID-19 testing is also recommended throughout the professional sports season.

On Tuesday, Abbott issued a separate proclamation allowing food courts in shopping malls to reopen immediately and giving the green light for water parks to begin operations with limited capacity starting Friday.

Thursday’s announcement comes as the total number of coronavirus cases in Texas increased to 57,921, including 1,562 deaths, according to the latest data from the Department of State Health Services. Out of Texas’ 254 counties, 230 are reporting cases.

Clarification: A previous version of this story said Abbott's revised order was new Thursday. The order was dated Thursday on the governor's website at the time of publication, though it was later changed to be dated Friday.