Texas is reopening retail stores and restaurants on Friday despite rising coronavirus death tolls in the state — here's a closer look at how the Lone Star State is preparing to reopen its economy

Bethany BironMay 1, 2020, 02:21 IST

A Texas resident dons a mask to protect against the coronavirus.AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Monday that he will enact a multi-stage reopening plan beginning on May 1 with retail stores, malls, restaurants, and movie theaters.
The second wave is expected as early as May 18 and will include barbershops, hair salons, bars, and gyms. All public establishments will be required to operate at no more than 25% capacity, and up to 50% in select rural areas.
Here's a closer look at how the Lone Star State is responding to the coronavirus.
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Texas — home of the world's 10th largest economy — is officially reopening on Friday as death tolls continue to rise in the state.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Monday that he will enact a multi-stage reopening plan, with the initial wave beginning on May 1. Under the new policy, Texans can patronize retail stores, malls, restaurants, libraries, museums, and movie theaters at 25% capacity. In rural counties with less than five confirmed cases of the coronavirus, these public establishments are permitted to operate at up to 50% capacity.

As early as May 18, Abbott said the state may open its doors once more to barbershops, hair salons, bars, and gyms, based on monitoring cases in the state in the first half of the month. Texas currently has 27,839 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 776 reported deaths. On April 28, the state reported 42 deaths, up from 26 the week prior and 11 at the beginning of the month.

"Now it's time to set a new course, a course that responsibly opens up business in Texas," Abbott said in a press conference on Monday. "We will open in a way that uses safe standards -- safe standards for businesses, for their employees as well as for their customers. Standards based upon data and on doctors."

Businesses around the state this week prepared to welcome back customers by deep cleaning and sanitizing, with several even defying state orders completely by opening up restaurant patio seating and dining rooms early.

Here's a closer at how Texas is preparing to restart its economy.

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An employee of Federal American Grill slicing limes while wearing a mask on April 24.

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

In Houston, the owner of Federal American Grill began seating customers in its dining room as early as April 24 on a reservation-only basis with safety measures and social distancing in place, despite eateries being restricted to takeout only through April 30.

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

In Houston, the owner of Federal American Grill began seating customers in its dining room as early as April 24 on a reservation-only basis with safety measures and social distancing in place, despite eateries being restricted to takeout only through April 30.

... and this hair salon, where a customer came in for a trim on April 24. Salons and spas have not been officially reopened by the governor yet.

AP Photo/LM Otero

Elsewhere in Dallas, some salons have already been up and running, like this one that erected plastic barriers between the aesthetician and the customer ...

AP Photo/LM Otero

In Houston, masked shoppers wait to enter a store after Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo mandated on Monday that all residents must wear masks in public with the exception of eating, drinking, or exercising.

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

In Houston, masked shoppers wait to enter a store after Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo mandated on Monday that all residents must wear masks in public with the exception of eating, drinking, or exercising.

A man sweeps the floors of the Galleria Mall.

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Workers scrubbing the floors of the Galleria Mall in Dallas, Texas.

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Employees at the Galleria Mall in Dallas, Texas have been cleaning the premises this week in advance of the return of shoppers on Friday.

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

More coronavirus-inspired murals in Austin.

AP Photo/Eric Gay

A man wearing a bandana as a protective covering walks past a series of coronavirus-related murals in Austin, Texas.

AP Photo/Eric Gay

A worker in a mask wipes down tables at Benny's Cafe on Monday.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Also in Colleyville, a waitress at Benny's Cafe served food to customers on Monday before the official statewide reopening date.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

A Costa Vida employee sanitizes the chairs and tables in between parties.

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

A masked server delivers a beer to a diner on the patio of Costa Vida.

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Signs on the front door of Costa Vida explain the current ordering process.

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

A Costa Vida employee handles payments at the front door of the restaurant. While patio seating is open, only employees are allowed inside.

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

A woman waiting in a social distancing line marked by orange traffic cones at Costa Vida takes a menu from an employee.

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Customers interested in patio dining are asked to place orders with employees at the front door of the restaurant. The food is then delivered to their tables, takeout style.

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Customers interested in patio dining are asked to place orders with employees at the front door of the restaurant. The food is then delivered to their tables, takeout style.

At Costa Vida Mexican restaurant in Colleyville, Texas, diners were already spotted eating on the outdoor patio earlier this week in advance of the statewide reopening. The city independently relaxed its social distancing rules earlier this week.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

At Costa Vida Mexican restaurant in Colleyville, Texas, diners were already spotted eating on the outdoor patio earlier this week in advance of the statewide reopening. The city independently relaxed its social distancing rules earlier this week.

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Texas is reopening retail stores and restaurants on Friday despite rising coronavirus death tolls in the state — here's a closer look at how the Lone Star State is preparing to reopen its economy

An employee of Federal American Grill slicing limes while wearing a mask on April 24.

In Houston, the owner of Federal American Grill began seating customers in its dining room as early as April 24 on a reservation-only basis with safety measures and social distancing in place, despite eateries being restricted to takeout only through April 30.

... and this hair salon, where a customer came in for a trim on April 24. Salons and spas have not been officially reopened by the governor yet.

Elsewhere in Dallas, some salons have already been up and running, like this one that erected plastic barriers between the aesthetician and the customer ...

In Houston, masked shoppers wait to enter a store after Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo mandated on Monday that all residents must wear masks in public with the exception of eating, drinking, or exercising.

A man sweeps the floors of the Galleria Mall.

Workers scrubbing the floors of the Galleria Mall in Dallas, Texas.

Employees at the Galleria Mall in Dallas, Texas have been cleaning the premises this week in advance of the return of shoppers on Friday.

More coronavirus-inspired murals in Austin.

A man wearing a bandana as a protective covering walks past a series of coronavirus-related murals in Austin, Texas.

A worker in a mask wipes down tables at Benny's Cafe on Monday.

Also in Colleyville, a waitress at Benny's Cafe served food to customers on Monday before the official statewide reopening date.

A Costa Vida employee sanitizes the chairs and tables in between parties.

A masked server delivers a beer to a diner on the patio of Costa Vida.

Signs on the front door of Costa Vida explain the current ordering process.

A Costa Vida employee handles payments at the front door of the restaurant. While patio seating is open, only employees are allowed inside.

A woman waiting in a social distancing line marked by orange traffic cones at Costa Vida takes a menu from an employee.

Customers interested in patio dining are asked to place orders with employees at the front door of the restaurant. The food is then delivered to their tables, takeout style.

At Costa Vida Mexican restaurant in Colleyville, Texas, diners were already spotted eating on the outdoor patio earlier this week in advance of the statewide reopening. The city independently relaxed its social distancing rules earlier this week.