A few notes from the Governor’s announcement in case you missed it:

A few notes from the Governor’s announcement in case you missed it:

• The spread of the virus is slowing in Texas and the hospitalization rate has remained steady. TX has the 3^rd highest recovery rate in the US.
• The state-mandated stay at home order expires April 30.
• Opening Texas will be phased to avoid having to close down again once we reopen. A phased reopening is in accordance with CDC guidelines.
• Phase 1 begins this Friday, May 1.
  • Most important: protect our most vulnerable: 65+ have high mortality rate.
  • Remain at home if possible (vulnerable populations). Protect senior centers. The better we protect the elderly, the safer we can open.
  • The list of business that can reopen on May 1 was developed by the doctors advising the strike force. They also provided health guidelines.
  • Gov.texas.gov/opentexas – all retail stores, malls, movie theaters, restaurants, museums, and libraries. All hands-on interactive museum activities remain closed.
  • Occupancy restricted to 25% for these businesses – similar to how businesses that remained open have been operating (like HEB and Home Depot).
  • This supersedes all local orders.
  • It allows these businesses to reopen; they don’t have to if they do not feel safe. It’s permission, not a requirement.
  • Churches and religious facilities can expand operations with effective distancing in place.
  • Sports activities are allowed with under 4 participants. Distancing practices must be maintained. Golf and tennis, for example, are acceptable.
  • All licensed health-care professionals may return to work with distancing in place. Hospitals must maintain 50% occupancy for COVID patients.
  • The businesses that never closed can continue to operate.
  • Phase 2 standards apply to counties with 5 or fewer confirmed COVID cases (businesses can reopen with 50% occupancy as of May 1). If there is an outbreak, occupancy will revert to Phase 1 capacity (25% occupancy).
  • Barber shops, gyms, bars are to remain closed. Hoping to get these open in mid-May.
  • Access to childcare is key. Childcare – expand resources is the goal.
  • Summer camps – not yet opened.
  • Testing and tracing will be expanded to up to 4,000 contact tracers by the end of May.
  • Reopening is guided by medical experts. Hospitalization rate will indicate when we are ready for the next phase.
• Phase 2 May 18^th at the earliest. More re-openings and expanded services for those reopened in phase 1. They need 2 weeks of data to show no new flare-ups.
  • Occupancy raised to 50%.
  • More sporting activities will be allowed.
• Maintain social distancing, reopen with guidance by doctors, reduce exposure to the virus, entrepreneurs drive our economy.
• Masks are recommended, not mandated. All local mandates are no longer valid.
• Shelter in place is still an option for those who do not feel safe to go out in public yet.
• For all of the executive orders, there are several levels of enforcement: regulatory and local level. For example, a business can lose their license to operate if they violate these restrictions.

Additionally, Congress approved another $310 billion for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and $60 billion for disaster loans. The PPP reopened at 9:30 am today, but the EIDL application will remain closed for now. The SBA has resumed processing EIDL loans previously received and in the queue with the new funding. Our guess is that they will clear the queue and evaluate if any funding remains before opening up a new application. I’ll send more information once I have it. Given how quickly funds ran out last time, it’s important that people apply early to be considered.

The UTSA Small Business Development Center is working to put together a list of banks that will accept new business accounts so that businesses may apply for the PPP loan if their primary bank with which they do business is not accepting applications or is unable to process them. You can reach them here: https://sasbdc.org/.