Gov. Abbott expands business openings, announces surge response teams

​​​​​AUSTIN – Gov. Greg Abbott has expanded the reopening of certain businesses and activities. 

Retailers such as barbershops, nail salons, tanning salons, and similar businesses may reopen on Friday, May 8, provided they maintain six-foot distances between workstations. 

Public swimming pools may also reopen Friday. 

Office buildings and manufacturing plants that produce nonessential goods may restart their operations at 25 percent of their normal occupancies on Monday, May 18. 

Officials also announced the formation of surge response teams that will serve nursing homes, prisons, packing plants and other facilities that experience flare-ups of COVID-19. These teams will provide personal protective equipment, testing supplies, onsite staffing, and assessment assistance.

The Real Estate Center has more COVID-19 information online for free.