Some Texas businesses allowed to expand capacity — but bars to remain closed

Many businesses across the state will be able to expand their capacity next week, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Sept. 17.

Rather than create overarching rules for the entire state, Texas leadership will evaluate the status of 22 hospital regions across the state. Reopening will take into consideration many factors, but the Covid-19 hospitalization rate is the most important metric to show the severity of the spread in any region, Abbott said.

If Covid-19 patients make up 15% or less of a region’s…