Gov. Abbott: Restaurants & Churches Can Open but Salons Remain Closed

SAN ANGELO, TX – Governor Abbott announced Monday afternoon the state will begin re-opening businesses on May 1st with Phase 1. The current Stay-At-Home Order will expire as scheduled on April 30th.

Phase 1 allows retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and malls to re-open with occupancy limited to no more than 25 percent. Businesses are allowed to re-open, but they are not required.  Hair salons and barber shops will remain closed until mid-May. In malls, the food-court dining areas, play areas, and interactive displays and settings must remain closed.

Phase 2, which is scheduled to begin on May 18th, would allow those businesses to increase occupancy to 50 percent. 

Phase 2 will begin on schedule if the data shows the state has not increased its infection rate as businesses re-open.

Museums & Libraries may also re-open as long as they follow the same occupancy as retail stores. All hands-on exhibits must remain closed until further notice. Outdoor sports will also be allowed with no more than 4 participants allowed to congregate at one time. All licensed healthcare professionals are allowed to return to work.

Different standards for re-opening will apply to smaller rural counties with 5 or less. They will be allowed to open at a 50% capacity for occupancy of establishments.

Churches and places of worship can open, but are strongly encouraged to follow certain guidelines. Including:

• Designate an area inside the facility reserved for the at-risk population, or offer a service for at-risk population attendees only.
• Ensure proper spacing between attendees
• Keep at least two empty seats (or six feet separation) between parties in any row, except as follows:
• Two or more members of the same household can sit adjacent to one another, with two seats (or six feet separation) empty on either side.

Public swimming pools, massage establishments, interactive amusement venues, such as bowling alleys and video arcades, tattoo and piercing studios, barbershops, salons, and gyms, and bars are still closed as of this time. Governor Abbott stated he is hopeful they will be able to reopen in Mid-May at the beginning of Phase 2

Nursing homes, state supported living centers, assisted living facilities, and long-term care facilities must remain closed to visitors unless to provide critical assistance.

Abbott also announced that the state’s re-opening strategy for Texas was approved by Dr. Birx, the Coronavirus Response Coordinator for the Trump Administration's White House Coronavirus Task Force.