Texas Governor Greg Abbott Monday, May 18, 2020 that Texas will enter the second phase of its reopening plan. Under Phase II, the following my occur:
Beginning May 18, 2020:
- Child Care Centers, massage parlors, personal care centers, and youth clubs may reopen.
- Businesses located in office buildings may also open but must limit their occupancy to the greater of 10 employees or 25% of their workforce.
Beginning May 22, 2020:
- Restaurants may increase their occupancy to 50%;
- Bars may reopen at 25% capacity
- Aquariums, natural caverns, and similar facilities (excluding zoos) may reopen at 25% capacity
- Bowing alleys, bingo halls, simulcast racing, and skating rinks may reopen at 25% capacity
- Rodeo and equestrian events may reopen at 25% capacity
- Drive-in concerns may open
- Amateur sporting events (no access to public and with significant restrictions).
Beginning May 29, 2020:
- Zoos may reopen at 25% capacity
Beginning May 31, 2020:
- Professional basketball, baseball, softball, golf, tennis, football, and car racing may resume, with no spectators physically present
- Youth camps may reopen
- Youth sports programs may reopen
Counties with five (5) or fewer cases of COVID-19 are permitted to operate at 50% occupancy for all items that indicate 25% occupancy above. The reopening will be delayed for most items above in Deaf Smith, El Paso, Moor, Potter and Randall counties (generally encompassing the cities of El Paso and Amarillo) due to local outbreaks of COVID-19.
Further, Governor Abbott announced that public schools in Texas have the option to provide in-person summer school so long as they follow social distancing practices and health protocols laid out by DSHS. Classes may begin as soon as June 1st. You can find a copy of the most recent guidance for businesses here. Virtus Law, PLLC continues to monitor developments in this (and other COVID-19 areas) and will continue to post relevant updates to this website.