OPEN TEXAS COVID-19

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Texas restaurants, retailers and other businesses can reopen Friday. Here’s the rules they have to follow.

OPEN TEXAS

Texas Retailers and Texas Malls

Malls and retailers across Texas can reopen but must keep capacity limited to 25%. But for rural counties with fewer than five confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, retailers can serve up to 50% of their regular capacity.

Many online business in Texas are hurting, but some of the niche business that serve the healthcare industry or provide niche services like Prescription Safety Glasses are on the rise.

The demand for Prescription Safety glasses has doubled

owner Jeff Cline in a n interview on April 29th.

Areas including food court dining space, play areas and interactive displays must remain closed.

Retailers can also offer customers in-store pick up or get items delivered by mail or to their doorstep.

The task force recommends stores implement either specific pick up times for at-risk customers or that workers take their purchase out to the customer’s car.

Texas Restaurants

On Friday, dine-in service is back on at restaurants but capacity is limited to 25%. But for rural counties with fewer than five confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, restaurants can serve up to 50% of their regular capacity.

Parties of six or less, disposable menus and limited capacity are among the new rules businesses will follow if they open this Friday.

As the coronavirus spreads across the state, The Texas Tribune is covering the most important health, economic and breaking developments that affect Texans

Bars are to remain closed, even if they offer food.

Only six people will be allowed at a table and parties will be seated at least 6 feet apart from each other.

Patrons who choose to dine-in at a restaurant should expect a few new practices: disposable menus, condiments served only upon request and in single-use portions (a side of ketchup instead of a ketchup bottle), buffets that aren’t self serve and a hand sanitizing station at the restaurant entrance.

Valet service is also suspended except for cars with placards or plates for disabled parking.

Restaurants can still provide to-go and delivery service.

Restaurants that reopen dine-in service are encouraged to have an employee open doors to limit how many people come in contact with it and employees should disinfect surfaces and store items.

Texas Movie theaters

Despite the go-ahead to reopen movie theaters at 25% capacity, and 50% in rural counties with fewer than five confirmed cases of the new coronavirus,some of the state’s largest theater chains said they may not reopen until the summer.

Moviegoers who find an open theater will have to stay at least two empty seats apart from each other and there must be an empty row between customers. If you attend a movie with people you live with you can all sit together but must have two empty seats on either side of the group. If you want to watch a movie with someone you don’t live with, you can sit in the same row but still two seats apart.

Seats and other frequently touched surfaces must be cleaned between each screening.

Theaters with food options must follow similar protocol as restaurants with disposable menus, single-use cutlery and condiments and take home pencils and notepads for places that require customers to write down their order.

Texas Outdoor Sports

Texans can only play sports that don’t include contact with other players and only four people can play at a time. That rules out most sports including basketball, soccer and football. Public swimming pools must remain closed.

The governor’s group noted special instructions for golf courses, which can open. Golf carts must be cleaned between uses, only one person is allowed per cart, unless you’re of the same household and golfers must keep 6 feet apart.

Churches and Places of Worship

Since stay-at-home orders were implemented in early April churches and places of worship have been allowed to stay open as long as they followed social distancing guidelines.

Places of worship can still hold service but the governor’s task force encourages at-risk groups to watch service remotely. Religious institutions should also have designated services or areas for at-risk people who choose to attend in-person service.

Anyone who attends a religious service must sit at least two empty seats apart from other worshippers not in their households, and there should be an empty row between each person.

Texas Museums and Libraries

Public museums and libraries must have permission from their local government to reopen. Once up and running, museums and libraries can only allow 25% capacity and must close interactive areas, like exhibits and play areas. Capacity jumps to 50% in rural counties with less than five confirmed cases of the new coronavirus.

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