Update: Bars, Camps, Tattoo Parlors, and Professional Sports May Reopen In May

AUSTIN, TX – Governor Abbott has announced a new list of businesses that will be allowed to reopen starting today. Businesses will be required to follow certain guidelines to reopen including bars, youth camps, and professional sporting events.

As of today, the following business may reopen:

Child Care Centers

• Centers must operate the center in accordance with the Guidance for Child Care Programs that Remain Open released by the Centers of Disease Control.
• All employees should wear cloth face coverings over the nose and mouth.
• Require sick children and staff to stay home and have a plan if someone is or becomes sick.
• Limit access to your center, including parents and volunteers. 
• Cancel or postpone special events such as festivals, holiday events, and special performances.
• Outdoor areas, like playgrounds in schools and parks, generally require normal routine cleaning but do not require disinfection.
• New childcare ratios must be implemented.
• All staff and children must be screened before entering the facility.

Massage and Personal-Care & Beauty Services

• Businesses operating as massage establishments or providers of personal care and beauty services not previously authorized to operate during the declared emergency may operate provided they can ensure at least 6 feet social distancing between operating workstations.
• New businesses include massage establishments, other massage services by licensed massage therapists or other licensed persons, electrolysis, waxing, tattoo studios, piercing studios, and hair loss treatment and growth services.
• Schedule appointments to limit the number of people in the establishment.
• Walk-in clients should wait either in their own cars or outside with at least 6 feet of separation between individuals.
• Clients should not bring extra people to the appointment, such as children.
• All clients should wash their hands upon entering the establishment and before each treatment and should take measures to ensure that clients do not physically interact with each other in the establishment.

Youth Clubs & Sports

• Train all employees, volunteers, and contractors on appropriate cleaning and disinfection, hand hygiene, and respiratory etiquette.
• If a youth club provides a meal for employees, volunteers, contractors, and/or participants, youth clubs are recommended to have the meal individually packed for each individual.
• Make hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, soap, and water, or similar disinfectant readily available to employees, volunteers, contractors, and participants.

As of May 22, 2020, these types of businesses may reopen:

Bars

• Customers should not be permitted to loiter at the bar or in commonly trafficked areas. They should remain seated at tables inside the bar.
• Service should only be provided to seated individuals. Tables should only seat 6 people or less.
• Parties should maintain at least 6 feet of distance from other parties at all times, including while waiting to be seated in the establishment or for admission to the establishment.
• Dancing should be discouraged as well as any other activities that enable close human contact.
• A hand sanitizing station should be available upon entry to the establishment.

Bowling Alleys, Bingo Halls, Simulcasting, Skating Rinks

• Employees must disinfect all equipment, including inside all bowling balls, shoes, and other rental equipment, before and after customer use.
• Provide equipment disinfecting products throughout the facility for use on equipment.
• Consider having an employee or contractor manage and control access to the facility, including opening doors to prevent patrons from touching door handles.

Rodeo & Equestrian Events

• Remote ticketing options are encouraged to help manage capacity limitations.
• Ensure proper spacing between patrons in the venue by keeping at least two empty seats (or 6 feet of separation) between parties in any row.
• Have employees, contractors, volunteers, and participants wash or sanitize their hands upon entering the event venue.

Zoos, Aquariums, & Natural Caverns

• Individuals should avoid being in a group larger than 10 individuals.
• Visitors should wash or disinfect hands upon entering a zoo, aquarium, natural cavern, or similar facility and after any interaction with employees, other visitors, items, or after eating.
• Patrons should consider wearing cloth face coverings (over the nose and mouth) when entering a zoo, aquarium, natural cavern, or similar facility, or when within 6 feet of another person who is not a member of the individual’s household.

As of May 31, 2020, these businesses may reopen:

Day Youth Camps

• Youth camps must train all staff members appropriate cleaning and disinfection, hand hygiene, and respiratory etiquette. No self-serve buffet meals will be permitted for campers and campers must social distance when traveling in camp vehicles. 
• All staff members must be screened daily and limit staff with underlying conditions from attending or staffing camp sessions.
• Parents or guardians will not be allowed to visit the camp during or between camp sessions, except to drop-off and pick-up campers.

Overnight Youth Camp Operators

• Overnight camps will be required to follow the same sanitation guidelines as day camps but will need to implement further guidelines.
• Campers and staff members must be separated into groups and co-mingling of groups should be discouraged.
• Staff should limit to visit surrounding communities and the camp must provide a facility on campgrounds for staff to take a break. 

Professional Sports Without In-Person Spectators

• Professional basketball, baseball, car racing, football, golf, softball, and tennis leagues may apply to the DSHS for approval to hold professional sporting events. Events may take place beginning May 31, 2020. 
• Sporting events may not have spectators physically present on the premises.