Texas Governor Greg Abbott Announces Executive Order to Re-Open Texas

On April 27, Governor Abbott addressed the State regarding a three-phase plan on re-opening Texas. Under Phase I, Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) issued minimum standard health protocols for all businesses and individuals to follow. A new program designed to conduct statewide testing and contact tracing was created to identify and mitigate the spread of the virus.

Starting May 1, all retail stores, restaurants, movie theatres, and malls are permitted to reopen limiting capacity to 25% of their listed occupancy. Municipal government operations related to permitting, recordation, and document-filing services, may reopen as determined by the local government. Phase I of this order is set to begin May 1, and will continue until May 18, according to Executive Order (GA-18). Phase II recommendations are scheduled for release around mid-May.

“This strategic approach to opening the state of Texas prioritizes the health and safety of our communities and follows guidelines laid out by our team of medical experts.” said Abbott during press release. Accompanied by the announcement Governor Abbott released a detailed report that explains the new protocols, guidance, and recommendations.

The Governor’s Report to Open Texas includes a checklist that has the DSHS’s minimum standard protocols. The report also encompasses the long-term comprehensive mitigation plan for nursing homes. Two other Executive orders were also issued in reference to health care professionals, hospital capacity and the elimination of the current 14-day quarantine requirement expanding travel without restrictions for individuals traveling from other states to Texas.

Following best practices set forth by the Governor’s Office, SLTX will not have any service interruptions and will continue to provide excellent customer service from a remote environment. We are monitoring the situation diligently to determine the best course of action on returning to the office, while ensuring the safety of our staff.