Here’s what you need to know about Gov. Greg Abbott’s order to reopen Texas

Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Tuesday that will lift coronavirus restrictions and end the statewide mask mandate March 10.

Here’s what you need to know:

When will the state reopen and the mask mandate be lifted?

The order will be effective at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, March 10.

Who will be affected?

The order covers the entire state, but county judges in trauma service areas that have high COVID-19 hospitalizations — greater than 15% of hospital capacity for at least seven straight days — may issue orders to slow the spread of the disease. Those orders could include mask mandates and limiting businesses’ capacity. But the capacity restrictions must not be lower than 50% and there can be no such restrictions on schools, child-care centers and places of worship. Only one region — encompassing Culberson, El Paso and Hudspeth counties in West Texas — meets the high hospitalization requirement.

Should I still wear a mask?

Absolutely. Health experts and many local officials say you should continue wearing face coverings and following other preventive measures such as social distancing, until enough people have been vaccinated against the virus to create herd immunity. The order, echoing Abbott’s call Tuesday for personal responsibility, “strongly encourage[s]” people to try to follow health recommendations when it is not possible to maintain six feet of distance from people who aren’t in the same household.

Are there places I still have to wear a mask?

Yes. President Joe Biden issued an executive order in January that requires masks in federal buildings. The Transportation Security Administration mandates mask-wearing in airports and on flights, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requires face coverings for people who are using public transit, including buses and taxis. Additionally, a business or property owner may require you to wear a mask to remain on the premises.

Will I be fined or jailed for not wearing a mask?

No. The governor’s order says no local jurisdiction, such as the county you live in, is allowed to require masks if it is in an area where COVID-19 hospitalizations are below the state’s threshold. In areas where COVID-19 hospitalizations are high, county judges are allowed to require masks but may not penalize people for not wearing them. Authorities will be allowed to enforce trespassing laws at the request of a business or property owner that is invoking its own requirement to wear masks.

What does this mean for schools?

Public schools can operate under guidance established by the Texas Education Agency. The TEA’s most recent health guidance refers to the governor’s mask mandate from July. Private schools and higher education institutions are encouraged to operate by similar standards.

What does this mean for nursing homes?

A previous order signed by Abbott in September expanded people’s ability to visit loved ones in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, allowing residents to have indoor visits from up to two designated “essential caregivers” who have tested negative for COVID-19 — only at facilities that meet certain standards, such as not having an outbreak of the disease. The new order says such facilities should continue to follow guidance from the state’s Health and Human Services Commission, which has not changed its visitation rules since September.

What does this mean for jails?

The new order rescinds a previous order that closed county and municipal jails to in-person visits. It says such facilities should follow guidance from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards regarding visits. The agency has not yet issued new guidelines since Abbott’s order was announced.

Can my county opt out of the order?

No. Abbott’s order supersedes any local order that is more restrictive than the state’s.