City Council Amends COVID-19 Restrictions, Some Businesses and Services to Reopen May 1
By Susan Schrock, Office of Communication
Posted on April 28, 2020, April 28, 2020

Roadmap to Reopen and Recover

The Arlington City Council voted Tuesday to amend the City’s emergency measures related to how people work, travel and gather in public during the coronavirus outbreak to remain consistent with Gov. Greg Abbott’s latest executive orders.

On Monday, Abbott announced the first phase of the State of Texas' ongoing plan to safely and strategically open Texas while minimizing the spread of COVID-19. This phase, which relaxes restrictions for select businesses, activities and services, starts May 1 and will continue until at least May 18, 2020.

In March, the Mayor and City Council declared a local state of disaster for the City of Arlington as a result of the coronavirus. The City has continually updated its Stay Home, Work Safe measures as it works collaboratively with Tarrant County and the state to ensure that all appropriate and necessary measures are taken to protect public health and limit the spread of COVID-19.

"Our measured approach to reopening retail, restaurants and other vital businesses in Arlington includes COVID-19 testing, which allows us to respond quickly to potential outbreaks and protect the community," Fire Chief Don Crowson said. "For our roadmap to reopening our economy to be a success, we need our residents, visitors and businesses to continue practicing social distancing, hand washing and other recommendations that are designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect the most vulnerable among us." 

Click here to read the Arlington City Council’s most recent ordinance amendment from April 28, 2020 as part of the City’s Roadmap to Reopen and Recover.

What’s opening starting May 1:

  • All retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and malls will be permitted to reopen starting May 1 at no more than 25% of their listed occupancy. Within shopping malls, the food-court dining areas, play areas, and interactive displays and settings must remain closed.
  • All museums and libraries may open under the same 25% occupancy limitation, but interactive areas of museums must remain closed.
  • Golf courses
  • Single-person offices may reopen.
  • Churches and places of worship remain open. Houses of worship are encouraged to conduct as many activities as possible remotely, and should follow state recommended minimum health protocols when providing services in person.
  • Local government operations, including county and municipal government operations relating to permitting, recordation, and document-filing services, may reopen. Updates for City of Arlington programs and services, including the public library, parks and recreation, animal services and the Municipal Court, will be announced at www.arlingtontx.gov/coronavirus.

What’s still closed:

  • People shall avoid visiting bars, gyms, public swimming pools, interactive amusement venues such as bowling alleys and video arcades, massage establishments, tattoo studios, piercing studios, or cosmetology salons. The use of drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options for food and drinks remains allowed and highly encouraged throughout the limited duration of the Governor’s executive order.
  • Nursing homes, state supported living centers, assisted living facilities, and long-term care facilities must also remain closed to visitors unless to provide critical assistance.

View the Governor's Executive Orders issued April 27, 2020:

GA-18: Relating to the expanded reopening of services as part of the safe, strategic plan to Open Texas in response to the COVID-19 disaster.

GA-19: Relating to hospital capacity during the COVID-19 disaster.

GA-20: Relating to expanding travel without restrictions as part of the safe, strategic plan to Open Texas in response to the COVID-19 disaster.

View Texans Helping Texans: The Governor's Report to Open Texas.

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