AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Gov. Greg Abbott is ready to open additional pieces of the Texas economy as early as this Friday.
Abbott spoke at the State Capitol Tuesday afternoon alongside other leaders of the state's COVID-19 response efforts.
"Texas is in a position to continue opening parts of our economy because of the efforts and determination of the people of Texas," Abbott said. "Over the past month, Texans have worked together to contain the spread of COVID-19 by following social distancing practices and staying at home whenever possible. As we move forward, I urge all Texans to continue following these social distancing guidelines and the health standards we have provided. With every Texan doing their part, we will contain COVID-19, we will unleash our entrepreneurs, and we will make it through this challenge together."
The new openings come less than a week after the first phase of Abbott's re-opening plan went into effect, with restaurants, retail stores, movie theaters, and libraries able to re-open at 25 percent of their capacity.
Among the business categories that Abbott touched on:
- Barber shops, hair, nail, and other types of salons will be able to re-open beginning Friday, May 8 for one-on-one appointments only. Walk-ins will only be allowed if 6 feet distancing can be maintained. Face masks are strongly encouraged.
- Swimming pools will be able to re-open beginning May 8, subject to certain limitations on occupancy or operating levels.
- Gyms will be able to re-open on Monday, May 18 at 25% capacity. Safe distancing practices must be maintained, all equipment must be disinfected after each use, patrons should wear gloves covering hands and all fingers, and locker rooms and showers must remain closed initially.
- Bars - no open date yet. Abbott says experts are still working on a way to establish safe distancing.
- Non-essential manufacturers and general office buildings can open on Monday, May 18, to give time for janitorial services to ramp up. Businesses must use staggered staffing procedures, including only having the greater of 5 employees or 25% of the workforce present, and safe distancing between employees must be maintained.
Abbott also clarified his executive orders relating to weddings. Wedding venues and services required to conduct weddings are allowed to immediately open. Weddings held indoors other than at a church, congregation, or house of worship must limit their occupancy to 25%. Wedding reception services may also resume, but facilities must limit their occupancy to 25% of the total listed occupancy. Occupancy limits do not apply to the outdoor areas of a wedding reception or to outdoor wedding receptions.
According to the latest numbers from the Texas Department of State Health Services, the number of coronavirus cases in the state is up to 33,369 as of Tuesday, including 906 deaths. More than half of the confirmed positive cases have now recovered, officials said.
