AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer active. For the latest updates, check out our new live blog here.
As of Friday, May 1, some restaurants, malls, retail stores and movie theaters have been allowed to reopen at a reduced capacity, but bars, gyms, nail salons and other businesses are not allowed to reopen.
The City of Austin has provided guidance on activities and information for businesses that have recently opened, or plan to open soon, under Gov. Abbott’s April 17 Executive Order GA-18 which supersedes some provisions of the “Stay Home – Work Safe” Order.
If you plan on going to a restaurant, you can expect to see some changes such as disposable menus and no condiments on the tables. Here's a checklist of what restaurants are recommended to do. Retail stores will also roll out recommendations for customers such as staying six feet away from others and wearing a face-covering or mask. Here's a list.
Scroll down for the top headlines and latest updates in KVUE's May 2 live blog.
Top Headlines:
- LIST: Confirmed Central Texas coronavirus cases by county
- Stay-at-home order lifted, Austin heads outside
- Video shows man push park ranger into Lake Austin, suspect arrested
- LIST: Major retailers release plans to reopen stores
- LIST: These malls have reopened in the Austin area
- Number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to rise in Texas
- Austin-Travis County coronavirus cases reach 1,683, 51 deaths
COVID-19 Updates:
6 p.m. – Travis County is reporting 31 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Saturday, bringing the total to 1,714 in the county, with 51 deaths. There have been 512 reported recoveries from the virus.
A full breakdown of the cases can be found on the Austin-Travis County online dashboard.
4:40 p.m. – Williamson County is reporting seven new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total in the county to 313. Ten people have died from the virus.
4:10 p.m. – Arkansas Bend Park has been closed due to a large number of visitors.
"In order to manage the safety of visitors and staff, the park is closed for today," Travis County Parks said.
The park will reopen on Sunday with limited capacity.
1:40 p.m. – Pace Bend Park has been closed for the day thanks to a large number of visitors, Travis County Parks said on Twitter. This is the second weekend in a row the park has closed.
11:50 a.m. – After randomly testing 150 people for COVID-19 in Bastrop County, health officials announced there were zero positive results.
“Random testing is done so there is a better understanding of the pattern and spread of COVID-19 in the County,” said Dr. Desmar Walkes, Bastrop County Health Authority. “These tests were handled just like the other 350 we have conducted in Bastrop County and I am confident in the results.”
Officials warned that only 150 tests in a population of 85,000 people are not enough to draw any strong conclusions, but said it is an indicator that the virus might not be prevalent in the county.
8 a.m. – The Central Texas Food Bank hosts another drive-thru distribution event. The event started at 8 a.m. and will go until 1 p.m. at Nelson Field near highways 290 and 183 in East Austin.
Everyone is asked to stay in their cars, and volunteers will put the food in their trunks. Each box contains about 28 pounds of food and hygiene products.
According to the president of the food bank, they have seen a 200% increase in new people in Travis County using their services.
MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:
- US death toll passes 65,000 from COVID-19
- Texas prisons see more than 38,000% spike in coronavirus cases
- LIST: Most Texas museums choose to remain closed until further notice
- Customers must remember contact tracing as some restaurants reopen dining areas
- Expect more homes to go on the market soon, but things will be different
- How unemployment in Texas compares to job openings
- Protestors host OPEN TEXAS rally at the Texas Capitol
- Some Central Texas counties could qualify for looser restrictions
- LIST: Austin businesses close permanently during COVID-19 pandemic
- Will coffee shops open their sitting areas?
- LIST: Drive-thru coronavirus testing in Austin area
- LIST: Texas colleges planning to open this fall and some still evaluating