Arlington adopts Texas governor’s relaxed order on reopening economy during pandemic
The Arlington City Council adopted Tuesday orders from Gov. Greg Abbott for reopening Texas’ economy amid the coronavirus pandemic starting Friday.
Texans have been restricted from leaving their homes except for “essential activities” since early April, a measure Abbott said has worked to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams said residents should continue to practice social distancing and good hygiene to prove that the city is ready for the economy, including restaurants, stores and recreational businesses, to reopen.
The plan to end the quarantine will come in phases, according to the governor’s plan.
The first set of businesses to reopen, limited to 25% capacity, will include restaurants, shopping malls (though food courts and children’s play areas will remain closed), movie theaters, libraries and museums.
Businesses will have to ensure customers practice social distancing when patronizing.
In phase one, public swimming pools, bars, gyms, salons, massage parlors, entertainment venues, such as bowling alleys and video arcades, and tattoo and piercing studios, will remain closed. Abbott said he hopes to reopen bars, hair salons and gyms by mid-May, and raised the possibility of allowing one customer in salons at a time.
Some businesses, like Tipsy Oak in Arlington, have already opened their patios for full-service dining. Fort Worth’s Basement Bar in the Stockyards has already announced plans to reopen and Colleyville restaurants Rio Mambo, Benny’s Cafe and Gloria’s Latin Cuisine have all opened their patios for dine-in as well.
Staff writer Tessa Weinberg contributed to this report.