Safely Re-opening Texas Business
This week, Governor Greg Abbott announced that beginning on Friday, May 1 certain Texas businesses could begin re-opening to the public so long as they follow certain criteria. In addition, the Lubbock City Council approved of the Lubbock Economic Recovery Task Force’s recommendations for transitioning local businesses towards re-opening.This process will be conducted in phases with public health and the continued goal of slowing the spread of COVID-19 in mind. Here’s what you need to know for May 1 and beyond.
Governor Abbott’s Order
The Governor’s existing stay at home order is scheduled to expire at midnight on Friday, which he announced he will let expire. Going into effect on Friday are a new set of rules for businesses as outlined below:
- Restaurants, retail, malls, museums, libraries, and movie theaters may open their doors to the public, but may not exceed 25 percent of their max capacity
- Office settings that provide each employee with their own individual office may return to work
- Bars (51 percent rule), gyms, public pools, interactive venues (i.e. bowling alleys), massage parlors, tattoo parlors, and cosmetology parlors/barber shops must remain closed to the public
- May 18 is the target date for “Phase 2” of the re-opening process, but that will depend on how well “Phase 1” goes and what public health data says at that time
You can read the full text of the Governor’s executive orders here.
The City of Lubbock has partnered with the Lubbock Economic Recovery Task Force to establish guidelines and recommendations for local businesses so they can begin to re-open safely and effectively. First and foremost, all Lubbock businesses must follow the state’s orders. In addition, here is what the “Lubbock Safe!” campaign aims to achieve with local businesses:
- Certification for businesses that go above and beyond minimum health and safety requirements
- Businesses are encouraged to provide hand sanitizer at each entrance
- Both employees and customers are encouraged to wear face coverings
- Employees and customers should continue practicing social distancing by remaining six feet apart from one another
- If possible, businesses should create a barrier between cashiers and customers, and cashiers should sanitize or wash hands in between each transaction
- Businesses should use forehead temperature scanners for their employees before each shift
- Touchless payment options are encouraged
To find the full “Lubbock Safe!” guidelines click here and visit their website for business certification here.
Health and safety are still the top priority, and we trust all businesses, employees, and customers in Lubbock to work together to make this process as safe as possible while beginning to recover from the economic hardships caused by COVID-19. If your business is in search of PPE to be used when re-opening the Chamber has compiled a list of vendors selling various PPE supplies here.
