Texas Gov. Abbott Announces ‘Phase 1’ Re-Opening To Start May 1

This Friday, Texas will start getting back to work. In an address this afternoon, Governor Greg Abbott announced that his “stay-at-home” order would expire as intended on April 30. After which, he said, “we move forward to safely open Texas for business.” 

That means that starting Friday, owners of restaurants, malls, movie theaters and all other retail in the Lone Star state will be clear to go back to business — with the important proviso that they limit customer occupancy to just 25% of maximum. This is an occupancy rate that many essential businesses have already been holding to.

“It is entrepreneurs who drive the Texas economy,” said Abbott. 

This is no cavalier throwing of caution to the winds. “We’re not just going to open up and hope for the best,” said Abbott. Phase 1 of his reopening plan will last for two weeks, during which time the state will increase testing, contact tracing and isolation to “box in expansion of covid-19.” Only if no outbreaks are detected during that time will the state move to Phase 2 — allowing 50% of capacity. “We want to usher in phase two as quickly as possible.” Hopefully by May 18, “if no flareup.”

“There are some businesses I want to open, but [which] are not safe to open at this time,” like hair salons, bars and gyms. Abbott said he hopes to see those reopen in Phase 2. Further off comes Phase 3.

Summer camps for kids are also out for now. But outdoor sports are ok if only four people are playing. Churches can expand capacity, and sole proprietors can return to business.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (recently criticized for condemning the closure of the U.S. economy over virus fears) declared that Texans should “continue social distancing and wear a mask.” 

“It’s not a mandate,” said Abbott, making clear his disagreement with other elected officials, like Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo who last week declared that Houstonians starting today must wear masks in public or face fines up to $1,000. “No jurisdiction can impose any type of penalty or fine” on Texans not wearing a mask. 

Don’t expect a free-for-all. Abbott said the state is serious about 25% occupancy and the continued closure of certain businesses. “If they don’t follow the law they could lose their license to run their business.” 

Abbott said he relied on medical advice in formulating his plan, which received approval from President Trump’s Covid-19 advisor Deborah Birx. Asked about how he will decide on timing for Phase 2, Abbott said he would “look at all the data and see what that data means.” As more testing is rolled out, “we will see an increase in the number who test positive. That alone is not a decisive criteria.” More important, he said, is whether hospitalization rates and death rates continue to trend down. Decisions will be made on a county-by-county basis to contain any hotspots. 

The governor stressed that it was up to business owners to decide whether to reopen yet at all. “There’s no requirement to do so.”