SOME BUSINESSES REOPENING WITH RESTRICTIONS

  Gov. Greg Abbott is allowing some businesses to re-open Friday, including restaurants. The governor said, however, in Phase I of the reopening restaurants may only have 25 percent of capacity at any one time.

   He said data will be reevaluated in two weeks and, if a task force of health providers okays it, in Phase II, around May 18, the capacity will increase to 50 percent.

  Abbott said full details are  on the governor's website https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/organization/opentexas/OpenTexas-Report.pdf .

  On Thursday, Milam  County commissionersl issued orders bringing the county into compliance with Abbott's orders.

  Abbott pointed out his orders  say some businesses "may" reopen, not "have to" reopen.

  Other businesses which may reopen Friday, Abbott said, include movie theaters, museums and malls.

  Among those which may not yet reopen are hair salons and barber shops.

  MORE DETAILS:

All retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and malls are permitted to reopen. These services must limit their capacity to 25% of their listed occupancy. Within shopping malls, the food-court dining areas, play areas, and interactive displays and settings must remain closed.

All museums and libraries may open under the same 25% occupancy limitation, but interactive areas of museums must remain closed. State libraries and museums will open by May 1, and local public museums and libraries may reopen only if permitted by the local government. Single-person offices may reopen as well.

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.

DSHS has recommended minimum standard health protocols for all individuals, all employers and employees, as well as industry-specific protocols for retailers, retail customers, restaurants, restaurant patrons, movie theaters, movie theater customers, museums and libraries, museum and library visitors, outdoor sports participants, single-person offices, and low COVID-19 counties.

Essential services such as farmers and ranchers, grocery and drug stores, banks, and gas stations will continue to operate. 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.

Phase I began Friday May 1 and continue until at least May 18. The Governor will continue to evaluate next steps for the state.