AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced his plan to reopen Texas on Monday at the State Capitol.
The Governor issued an Executive Order on March 31, implementing Essential Services and Activities Protocols for the entire state of Texas. The order directed all Texans to minimize non-essential gatherings and in-person contact with people who are not in the same household. The protocols allowed exceptions for essential activities and services.
Many business owners have grown increasingly frustrated as their businesses remain closed.
The Governor announced Monday that he would let the essential services order expire April 30. Texans will no longer be required to stay home.
“That executive order has done its job to slow the spread,” Gov. Abbott said.
The Governor said the state won’t just open up and “hope for the best.” He insisted not all businesses will open at once.
“We will open Texas businesses in phases,” Gov. Abbott said.
Phase 1 will allow restaurants, movie theaters, retail stores, and malls to reopen on Friday, May 1. But those businesses can only operate under 25% capacity or less. Phase 2 is expected to be announced on May 18 and would expand operations to 50% capacity if the state continues to show a decrease its COVID-19 cases.
“We need to see two weeks of data to ensure we don’t see a flare up of COVID-19.”
Phase 1 also encourages the most vulnerable and elderly continue to stay at home.
“The more we do to protect our vulnerable population, the safer we will be in Texas,” Abbott said.
Governor Abbott insisted that his new order supersedes all local orders. He also made clear that the order does not require businesses to reopen, but allows them to if they choose.
Museums and libraries can also reopen May 1, but interactive exhibits must remain closed. All licensed healthcare professionals can return to work but all licensed hospitals must reserve 15 percent capacity for COVID-19 patients.
Not all business however, are able to reopen. Public swimming pools, bars, gyms, cosmetology salons, massage establishments, interactive amusement venues, such as bowling alleys and video arcades, and tattoo and piercing studios will remain closed through Phase I. Nursing homes, state supported living centers, assisted living facilities, and long-term care facilities must remain closed to visitors unless to provide critical assistance. He said medical experts don’t believe those businesses can safely reopen as of now, but that they could possibly reopen by mid may.
“This strategic approach to opening the state of Texas prioritizes the health and safety of our communities and follows the guidelines laid out by our team of medical experts,” said Abbott. “Now more than ever, Texans must remain committed to safe distancing practices that reduce the spread of COVID-19, and we must continue to rely on doctors and data to provide us with the safest strategies to restore Texans’ livelihoods. We must also focus on protecting the most vulnerable Texans from exposure to COVID-19. If we remain focused on protecting the lives of our fellow Texans, we can continue to open the Lone Star State.”
According to the order, churches and places of worship remain open. Outdoor sports are allowed to resume so long as no more than four participants are playing together at one time. Certain social distancing practices must also be followed. Local government operations, including county and municipal government operations relating to permitting, recordation, and document-filing services, may reopen as determined by the local government.
Abbott said testing is key in determining the state’s progress in the fight against COVID-19. He promised a continued increase in testing.
“We are Texans,” said Gov. Abbott. “We got this.”
A list of businesses that can open May 1 is listed here.
Listen to Clayton Neville’s story below:
Copyright 2020. WBAP/KLIF News. All Rights Reserved.
