Texas Executive Orders & Public Health Disaster Declaration
On March 31, 2020, Gov. Abbott issued an Executive Order implementing Essential Services and Activities Protocols. The protocols renew the Governor's directive to avoid eating or drinking inside at bars, restaurants, and food courts, although use of drive-thru, pickup, and delivery for food is highly encouraged. The order prohibits visiting gyms or massage establishments, and expands to include tattoo studios, piercing studios, and cosmetology salons. It also extends social distancing measures to April 30, 2020, and schools will remain closed to in-person classroom attendance through May 4, 2020.
On March 30 and March 26, Gov. Abbott issued several self-quarantine edicts for travelers returning from certain locations within the United States. For complete details on which returning travelers are subject to these self-quarantine orders, see our Information for Travelers page. Instructions for self-quarantined travelers can be found on the CDC COVID-19 Traveler Information Card.
On March 24, 2020, Gov. Abbott issued an Executive Order relating to daily reporting during the COVID-19 disaster. See the COVID-19 Texas Hospital Reporting Requirements found on the Information for Hospitals & Healthcare Professionals page of this site for more information.
On March 19, 2020, Dr. John Hellerstedt, Commissioner of Texas DSHS, declared a public health disaster in Texas, because COVID-19 “has created an immediate threat, poses a high risk of death to a large number of people, and creates a substantial risk of public exposure because of the disease’s method of transmission and evidence that there is community spread in Texas.”