Texas governor to let stay-at-home order expire Thursday, allowing some businesses to reopen

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday that he will allow the state's stay-at-home order to expire on April 30 and many businesses will be allowed to reopen with restrictions as soon as May 1.

The Republican governor said that the reopening process will be carried out in phases. Though many businesses will be permitted to reopen on the first of May but will be restricted to only 25 percent occupancy.

"So with my new executive order all retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters and malls can reopen May the first," Abbott said, adding that if this first phase is successful the occupancy limitation will be expanded to 50 percent in phase two.

The governor said museums and libraries may also open with the same 25-percent restriction. However, he stipulated that "interactive areas of museums with hands-on exhibits" will not yet be permitted.

Abbott said that counties with five or less coronavirus cases will be permitted to begin with a 50-percent occupancy rate. 

He said that barber shops, hair salons, bars and gyms will not be permitted to reopen yet.

"My hope is that they will open on or no later than mid-May," the governor said.

Many businesses across the country have suffered slowdowns or been forced to shutter due to restrictions during the pandemic, but now states are moving toward resuming more activity.

The massive economic slowdown has resulted in more than 26 million people filing for unemployment during a five-week period.