Governor Greg Abbott on Monday, April 27 said all retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and malls are allowed, but not required, to reopen on Friday, May 1.

The governor said he would not renew his Essential Activities and Services order, effectively a "stay home, stay safe" order, which expires at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, April 30.

Under GA-18, 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, records, and document-filing services, may reopen as determined by the local government.

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

The governor said 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.

The governor said GA-18 supersedes all local and county government orders.

The governor has also relaxed certain restrictions related to health care professionals and issued amended requirements related to hospital capacity. Under an Executive Order (GA-19) issued today:

• All licensed health care professionals shall be limited in their practice by, and must comply with, any emergency rules promulgated by their respective licensing agencies dictating minimum standards for safe practice during the COVID-19 disaster.
• Every hospital licensed under Chapter 241 of the Texas Health & Safety Code shall reserve at least 15% of its hospital capacity for treatment of COVID-19 patients, accounting for the range of clinical severity of COVID-19 patients, as determined by HHSC. 

 
Additionally, the governor has issued an Executive Order (GA-20) to eliminate the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for individuals traveling from Louisiana. Under GA-20, the mandated 14-day quarantine for travelers from the following areas remains in place: California; Connecticut; New York; New Jersey; Washington; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan, and Miami, Florida. 

More Information:

Texans helping Texans: The Governor's Report to Open Texas

Executive Order GA-18 related to the expanded reopening of businesses

Executive Order GA-19 related to hospital capacity

Executive Order GA-20 related to eliminating the self-quarantine requirement for travelers from Louisiana