Abbott’s plan to reopen businesses amid coronavirus draws reaction from President Trump
A day after Gov. Greg Abbott unveiled guidelines to let some businesses begin opening their doors amid the coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump took to Twitter to praise his decision.
“Texas to open businesses in phases beginning Friday. Great job being done by @GregAbbott_TX,” Trump tweeted Tuesday morning.
Monday afternoon, Abbott announced that Texas restaurants, retail stores, movie theaters, malls, libraries, museums and more may begin operating at 25% capacity starting Friday. The businesses that are part of the first phase of reopenings must follow detailed guidelines to ensure social distancing and hygiene standards are met.
Depending on the spread of the novel coronavirus in the state, the second phase of reopenings may begin as early as May 18, and will permit more businesses to reopen and allow for those already operating to expand their capacity to 50%.
During a press conference Monday from the Texas Capitol, Abbott had said he had run his plan by Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator.
“I sent her a copy of it, and she said the Texas plan was great,” Abbott said. “I want to join governors from across the country from both parties in thanking President Trump for all they have done to help our state. They truly have been available to us on a 24/7 basis.”
Abbott has faced mounting pressure from both conservative lawmakers who would like to see restrictions loosened so Texans can get back to work and Democratic lawmakers and public health experts who have said more widespread testing is needed first.
In a statement Tuesday, Abhi Rahman, a spokesman for the Texas Democratic Party, called Abbott’s plan premature.
“From a lack of testing at the federal and state level to opening things up before we’ve hit our peaks in deaths, Trump and Abbott have both mismanaged the coronavirus crisis,” Rahman said.
Across the country, a handful of states have begun to loosen their stay-at-home restrictions and allow for a limited reopening of businesses. Georgia was one of the first states to do so, allowing dining-in at restaurants and gyms, barber shops and hair salons, nail salons, tattoo parlors and bowling alleys to reopen.
Earlier this month, Trump released a three-phased approach that outlines criteria states should meet before easing social distancing guidelines, including a decrease in cases in a 14-day period and robust testing. And while Trump left decisions on when to reopen up to governors, he was critical of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s plans.
“I want people to be safe, and I want the people in Georgia to be safe, and I don’t want this thing to flare up because you’re deciding to do something that is not in the guidelines,” Trump said during a press briefing Thursday from the White House.
“I said, “You do what you think is best,” Trump recounted telling Kemp, a Republican. “But if you ask me, am I happy about it? I’m not happy about it, and I’m not happy about Brian Kemp.”
This story was originally published April 28, 2020 at 11:09 AM.
