The state of Texas in the United States is to start opening up its economy on Friday – the day on which South Africa aims to begin a similar process.
Texas governor Greg Abbott indicated on Monday that he intended letting the state’s stay-at-home order lapse on Thursday.
Shopping centres, retail outlets, restaurants, movie theatres, museums and libraries would be able to open, but only at 25% capacity. Further relaxation of the restrictions would be introduced in time, provided there was a two-week period in which there was no ‘flare-up’ of Covid-19 in the state.
The governor said the stay-at-home order had ‘done its job to slow the growth of Covid-19’. However, the number of cases identified has continued to rise day by day. The state may not have seen infections peak yet.
The move was, he said, aimed at ‘responsibly’ opening up business. Those that would prefer to do so could remain closed, and certain businesses – such as gyms and hair salons – would remain closed.
It would also trump any local regulations to the contrary.
Houston mayor Sylvester Turner remarked that the governor’s actions ‘pretty much will take these measures, the ability to [issue] stay-at-home orders and things of that nature, out of our hands locally’.
He raised a ‘cautionary note’ that the virus was still circulating and no vaccine existed.
Critics have charged that the state has not carried out enough testing and the prevalence of the virus remains undetermined.