REOPENING BUSINESS GUIDELINES

Texas restaurants, retailers, malls and movie theaters will be allowed to reopen with restrictions beginning Friday, May 1.

On Monday, April 27, 2020 Governor Greg Abbott unveiled Phase I of his reopening plan, giving the green light for several business sectors to open their doors, allowing movie theaters, restaurants, malls, retailers, libraries, and museums to operate at 25% capacity.

Under this order, businesses must operate within new health guidelines to minimize exposure and spread of the coronavirus. These precautionary measures were set in place with recommendations from health officials, including the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

To learn about the State of Texas’ response to COVID-19, click here.

Let's work together to reopen Texas safely!

KEY RESOURCES TO OPEN BUSINESSES

Basic Business Checklists

Restaurants

Parties must maintain at least 6 feet distance at all times.

Make a hand sanitizing station available upon entry.

No tables of more than 6 people.

Do not leave condiments, silverware, flatware, glassware, or traditional table top items on an unoccupied table.

Use disposable menus (new for each patron)

If a buffet is offered, restaurant employees should serve the food to customers.

Contactless payment is encouraged. Where not available, contact should be minimized.

Provide condiments only upon request, and in single use (non-reusable) portions.

Retailers

Retailers are encouraged to consider dedicating a certain period of time each day for only at-risk customers or deliver purchased goods to vehicles to reduce the need for at-risk customers to enter the store.

If practical, monitor what items customers touch to clean or disinfect when the customer leaver the retail establishment.

Contactless payment is encouraged. Where not available, contact should be minimized.

Movie Theaters

Utilize remote ticketing options to help manage capacity limitations.

Keep at least two empty seats (or 6 feet separation) between parties in any row except as follows:

- Two or more members of the same household can sit adjacent to one another, with two seats (6 feet separation) empty on either side.

- Two individuals who are not members of the same household but who are attending together can sit adjacent to one another, with two seats (or 6 feet separation) empty on either side.

Alternate rows between customers (every other row left empty).

Disinfect seats and frequently touched areas between screenings.

Contactless payments is encouraged. Where not available, contact should be minimized.

For movie theaters providing food service:

- Do not leave condiments, silverware, flatware, glassware, etc. on an unoccupied table.

- Provide condiments only upon request, and in single use portions.

- Clean and disinfect the area used for dining after each group of customers

- Use disposable menus (new for each customer)

Movie theaters with counter food service:

- Provide condiments or flatware only in single use, individually-wrapped items, and provide condiments only upon request.

- Have employees proper food-handling protocols.

- Disinfect any items that come into contact with customers.

Key Resources

When will it be safe to reopen? How do we protect employees and customers from the coronavirus? Where will my staff get COVID-19 tests? Masks? Gloves? Who’s going to pay for all this?

This section is designed to help business and community leaders find the answers they need to develop a responsible reopening strategy.

Wish to sell Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the State of Texas? Fill out the Procurement Form here.

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