What changes, and doesn’t, in reopening
On Friday, Texas will begin to emerge from a monthlong lockdown that slowed the spread of the coronavirus. Gov. Greg Abbott says the worst of the outbreak is behind the state, and is hopeful that a phased reopening will get the economy rolling again quickly while also reducing the risk of a second surge in infections.
Here is what is changing — and what isn’t.
No more stay-home; just stay safe
As of Friday, you can leave your home with few restrictions, though the governor has called for people to continue social distancing practices. Those include wearing masks in public and limiting the size of gatherings. He also has urged Texans who are over 65 or who have preexisting health conditions to continue staying home.
Churches remain open, but are encouraged to continue social distancing practices — families can still sit together, but the governor recommends a two-chair distance for non-family members.
Outdoor sports are allowed. The governor said Monday that they can't include more than four people at one time, but his order does not explicitly say that.
If you work alone in an office, you can now return to it.
Nursing homes and longterm care facilities are still off-limits to visitors.
Schools are closed to students.
Businesses can reopen, with restrictions
Until now, most retailers and restaurants have been forced to close or only offer delivery and curbside options. Starting Friday, all retail businesses and dine-in restaurants can open to customers as long as they keep occupancy to no more than 25 percent of their capacity. This includes restaurants with full bars, so long as most of their revenue comes from food sales.
Shopping malls can open as long as the food-court and play areas stay closed. Movie theaters can also open at the reduced capacity — no more than 25 percent in each theater.
Museums and libraries can open at 25 percent occupancy if approved by their local governments. Any interactive displays, hands-on exhibits or play areas have to stay closed. State libraries and museums will open at the same reduced capacity.
Local governments are free to reopen operations such as permitting, records and document-filing services. Some state agencies said they are still formulating plans for when and how employees will return to their offices.
Doctors, dentists and other medical professionals not involved in the outbreak response can resume nonessential procedures. Hospitals are required to maintain at least 15 percent of beds for COVID-19 patients.
Golf courses can open their pro shops, which have been closed until now.
For counties with five or fewer confirmed COVID-19 cases — and where residents have access to care and testing — the same types of businesses can reopen, but at 50 percent capacity, according to the new order.
The governor's order recommends people work from home if they can, and that businesses take precautions to continue social distancing. Abbott has pointed to grocery stores and businesses such as Home Depot as models for finding ways make sales while limiting exposure to the virus.
Bars, gyms, salons, bowling alleys are out
The governor has said the following are still closed: bars, gyms, public pools, bowling alleys and arcades, massage parlors, tattoo shops, piercing studios and cosmetology salons.
There has been some confusion about this brought by counties that want to fully reopen immediately. They note that the order Abbott released this week technically only says that “people shall avoid visiting” those businesses, not that they're explicitly prohibited.
The governor agreed in a television interview Tuesday that the wording was vague and that he would clarify. Attorney General Ken Paxton has since sent letters to counties saying the order does in fact bar them from opening.
Enforcement question
Counties and cities are barred from enforcing stricter regulations, such as mask requirements or local lockdowns.
Abbott said Monday that enforcement would largely fall to local agencies — such as police and sheriff ’s deputies — and regulatory boards.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the state agency that issues liquor licenses, does not plan to send agents to reopened businesses to check compliance.
Chris Porter, a spokesman for the agency, said its agents’ role would be limited to making sure licensees follow the latest emergency guidelines for selling liquor. Under the rules, restaurants may sell alcohol to go curbside, but the booze must be in manufacturer’s sealed containers — no larger than 375 milliliters for spirits — and accompanied by an order of food that has been prepared on premises.
“Once we receive reports of a TABC-licensed business that’s operating outside of the guidelines in the governor’s executive order, we’ll make contact with that business owner to discuss the ways they can legally operate. These will be informal discussions, and no warnings or penalties will be issued,” he said.
“If a violation occurs after this discussion, TABC could take additional action. This will be a last resort.”
Porter said no businesses had been cited since the stay-home orders March 31.