AUSTIN, TEXAS -- During a flurry of announcements on Tuesday concerning the reopening of the Texas economy amid the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Greg Abbott set Friday, May 8 as the date when barber shops, tanning salons, nail salons and hair salons can open their doors again.

What You Need To Know


  • Texas hair salons, tanning salons, nail salons and barber shops to reopen May 8

  • Gyms and exercise facilities to reopen May 18

  • No timetable for reopening of bars yet

  • Gov. Greg Abbott warns flare-ups will occur as economy restarts

There will be restrictions, however. Establishments will be limited to one customer per stylist or barber, and six feet of physical distancing must be maintained. Abbott recommended customers and stylists wear face coverings.

On May 18, gyms and exercise facilities will be permitted to open so long as occupancy is capped at 25 percent, which is the same restriction restaurants, retail shops and movie theaters are currently adhering to. In addition, shower facilities and locker rooms must remain closed, and equipment must be disinfected after each use. Customers must wear gloves.

“Non-essential” manufacturers can reopen May 18 at 25 percent capacity and with a staggered workforce.

Businesses that operate out of office buildings will be permitted to allow employees to return beginning May 18. This will be limited to 25 percent of the workforce, however, and physical distancing must be maintained.

There is no word yet on when bars will be allowed to reopen. Abbott said plans for safe distancing at bars are still being worked out and that he is open to suggestions for best practices.

Abbott warned that as the economy reopens there will be flare-ups of COVID-19 cases in certain regions and that surge response teams are being assembled to be dispatched to such problem areas.

Abbott said that since April 15 the positive test rate for COVID-19 in Texas has been cut in half and the metrics he’s relying on for reopening are backed up by data and doctors.

As of May 5, according to Texas Health and Human Services, there are 33,369 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state. Currently, 1,888 people are hospitalized in Texas for the virus. A total of 906 people have died in connection to the virus in the state and 16,791 people have recovered.