REOPEN

BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – An executive order from Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff declares that bars are officially free to reopen. While most of the more than 3,000 bars in Bexar County reopened as restaurants, a previous KSAT report states that 425 establishments still had their doors closed. At the end of July, TABC guidelines allowed bars to reclassify as restaurants under certain guidelines that fell under Gov. Under the current order, bars and similar establishments are allowed to offer on-site services at up to “50% of the total listed indoor occupancy of the establishment,” according to the executive order. Requirements for the health and safety policy must meet minimum standards from the Department of State Health Services.

Here are the current decisions from county judges for Bexar and the surrounding counties regarding the reopening of bars:Atascosa - Bars can reopen on Oct. 14. Bexar - City officials announced that local bars can reopen at 50% capacity on Oct. 21. TABC’s Coronavirus Information Page features an interactive map listing the Texas counties that have been approved to allow bars to reopen under Gov. Related:Wolff declines to reopen bars in Bexar County after Abbott issues orderGov. Greg Abbott said Texas counties can allow bars to reopen.

April 1: The San Antonio Fire Department and San Antonio Metropolitan Health District announced a COVID-19 outbreak at the Southeast Nursing & Rehabilitation Center at 4302 Southcross. July 17: A directive issued by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District stated school districts in San Antonio could not reopen schools for on-campus face-to-face instruction until after Sept. 7. The San Antonio River Walk Association and City of San Antonio announced they have canceled the 2020 Ford Holiday River Parade. The FDA gave emergency use approval of a new drug combination of Remdesivir that was tested in clinical trials in San Antonio by UT Health San Antonio and its clinical partner, University Health. Dec. 6: Dr. Virginia Kaklamani, a breast oncologist at UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, said the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium will be virtual.

SAN MARCOS, Texas – It’s double good news for San Marcos as city officials announced they are reopening river access and most city parks because the city “has experienced a steady decline in active [COVID-19] cases and a sustained low number of new cases with fewer hospitalizations.”Public facilities, riverfront parks, neighborhood park playgrounds, athletic complexes, tennis and basketball courts are expected to open Sept. 16 at 8 a.m. and the Children’s Park Playscape is expected to reopen Sept. 18. Capes Park, Thompson’s Island, and Rio Vista pool will remain closed, according to San Marcos city officials. Access to park amenities like picnic tables and pavilions will still be limited and barbecue grills and pop-up shelters are not permitted, city officials said. Parks expected to open are:BicentennialChildren’s ParkCity ParkCrook ParkDog BeachPlaza ParkRamon Lucio ParkRio VistaStokes ParkVeramendiVeteran’s Memorial ParkWildlife Annex ParkThe Lion’s Club Tube Rental and other tubing outfitters remain closed due to an executive order issued by Gov. Abbott saysSan Antonio Drive-In at Fiesta Texas releases fall movies lineupTrick-or-Treat from your car at Drive-Thru Zoo Boo at San Antonio ZooGiant corn maze opening near San Antonio in September

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Monday encouraged the Republican Party of Texas to cancel its in-person convention in Houston next week and warned that should the event continue, health inspectors would have the authority to shut down the gathering if certain guidelines are not followed. “I am asking them to have a virtual event.”A spokesperson for the state party did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last week, the SREC voted 40-20 to proceed with the in-person convention July 16 to 18 at Houston's George R. Brown Convention Center. According to the Houston Chronicle, Turner recently removed language from an executive order and effectively took away his own authority to cancel the convention. Last week, the Texas Girls Coaches Association also canceled its in-person convention scheduled for this Monday through Thursday in Arlington.

SAN ANTONIO Texas Gov. Abbott will answer questions from KSAT anchors Ursula Pari and Max Massey over satellite and the interview will be broadcast live. You can watch the interview live on KSAT12, KSAT-TV or on the livestream below of the KSAT News at Noon. What does Texas face mask mandate mean and who is exempt? As of Thursday evening, San Antonio has recorded a total of 12,878 COVID-19 cases.

SAN ANTONIO Open, closed, open, closed - such is the way for Texas bars, which were reclosed Friday at noon after Gov. Abbotts order reclosed bars and establishments whose receipts consist of 51% or more of alcohol sales. Greg Abbott expresses regret over reopening Texas bars during coronavirusBut those back-and-forth closures have left many who depend on the bar industry for income concerned about how theyre going to make ends meet. KSAT spoke with several people in the bar industry around San Antonio who shared their experience navigating the bar closures in an industry that is rapidly changing amid the coronavirus pandemic. With no direct clue who to blame or how to go about it, it seems the easy target bars, said Humphrey.

SAN ANTONIO While many Texans are wondering what public schools will look like going into the 2020-2021 school year, it seems that a mid-to-late August start date is the tentative plan for most San Antonio-area school districts as of now. Greg Abbott spoke with KPRC on Friday and said that the Texas Education Agency has prepared for any contingency. First and foremost, its protecting the safety of all students, teachers, staff as well as parents. Then last week, the TEA released new guidelines on remote learning, funding and school attendance. KSAT reached out to a number of school districts regarding academic calendars for the upcoming year and heard back from Comal, East Central, Edgewood, Floresville, New Braunfels, North East, San Antonio, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City, Somerset and Southside Independent School Districts.

Greg Abbott is temporarily pausing additional plans to reopen Texas. The Thursday announcement comes after Texas has seen major increases in positive coronavirus cases including a record-high 5,551 new cases on Wednesday. This temporary pause will help our state corral the spread until we can safely enter the next phase of opening our state for business,” Abbott said in a statement on Thursday. Abbott also asked Texans to “do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a mask, washing their hands regularly, and socially distancing from others. The last reopening expansion was announced on June 3 with Executive Order GA 26 which allowed nearly all Texas businesses to open at 50% capacity.

SAN ANTONIO Another movie theater is set to reopen in San Antonio this weekend. Santikos Embassy will reopen its doors on Friday with established physical distancing protocols in place in the theaters and at the bar, according to a press release. The location is offering $5 tickets for movies like The Greatest Showman, Knives Out, Irresistible and more. A full list of movies available to watch at The Embassy this weekend has not yet been published on the theaters website. Learn more about Santikos safety protocols below:Santikos Embassy is located at 13707 Embassy Road.

SAN ANTONIO Urban Air Adventure Park in San Antonio is set to reopen on Saturday but essential workers and their families can visit for free on Friday. All essential workers, including, but not limited to, medical professionals, caregivers, first responders, law enforcement personnel, grocery store employees, postal and delivery workers can sign up for a two-hour block on Friday. The time blocks for free entertainment are 4-6 p.m., 5-7 p.m., and 6-8 p.m., according to a press release. All existing Urban Air members are also invited to sign up for the same two-hour time blocks on Friday ahead of the opening to the general public. The two San Antonio locations listed on the press release that are scheduled to reopen are located at 8490 Fourwinds Dr. Suite 8510A and 618 Northwest Loop 410.

SAN ANTONIO – SeaWorld San Antonio will reopen June 19 with limited capacity and new safety measures intended to improve safety for guests. The reopening of the park will include enhanced health and safety protocols for cleaning and sanitizing, physical distancing, face-covering requirements and temperature screening, according to a press release. Aquatica San Antonio reopened on June 6 and also has enhanced safety measures for guests. SeaWorld San Antonio is offering 50% off admission for a limited time, according to a press release. For the complete list of enhanced safety measures at SeaWorld Antonio, click here.

SAN ANTONIO AMCs movie theater in downtown San Antonio wont sit empty for long. The movie theater chain announced Wednesday that it expects to have all of its theaters open in July as businesses begin to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. AMC has one theater in San Antonio, AMC Rivercenter 11, located at the Shops at Rivercenter. Regal Cinemas, which has six locations in the San Antonio area, has not announced when its theaters will reopen. Greg Abbott has allowed movie theaters to operate at 50% capacity under social distancing guidelines.

SAN ANTONIO Main Event is reopening all locations throughout Texas, including San Antonio, starting Thursday, June 11. Phase III reopening guidelines dictate that the entertainment venue can only operate at 50% capacity until social distancing guidelines are relaxed further. There will also be markers placed 6 feet apart throughout the building to promote social distancing and sanitization stations placed throughout the center. Schlitterbahn sets reopening date for New Braunfels, Galveston parksEvery piece of equipment will be cleaned between uses and we are now implementing contactless pay for everyone, said a spokesperson for Main Event. Gloves will also be provided for any guest who would like to use them, according to a press release.

SAN ANTONIO The historical San Antonio Kiddie Park, originally opened in 1925, is set to reopen its gates on June 19. Weve been looking forward to welcoming back families to Kiddie Park so that they can enjoy these historic rides as generations have before, said San Antonio Zoo president Tim Morrow. Were thrilled that the birthday party tradition can restart here for all San Antonians.Historic sculptured bench near San Antonio Zoo damaged in hail stormThe Kiddie Park moved to its new home at the San Antonio Zoo in October 2019. There will be hand sanitizer stations in the park, capacity will be limited to 50% and Kiddie Park will conduct temperature checks on all staff and vendors at the beginning of their shift. Kiddie Park hours will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and unlimited rides wristbands will be available for $12.

SAN ANTONIO The McNay Art Museum and its grounds will reopen for the summer with new rules. The museum announced Thursday that it will reopen to members on June 24 and to the general public on June 26, and will operate under regular hours. Bars, bowling alleys, summer sports camps, child care services allowed to reopen in Texas with restrictionsSocial distancing will be encouraged in galleries and throughout the museum, the release states. Because the museum was closed throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the McNay will extend exhibitions, including the Selena Forever/Siempre Selena. Under Abbotts reopening orders, interactive functions or exhibits, including child play areas and interactive games, must remain closed at museums.

SAN ANTONIO – Texas Department of Public Safety offices in San Antonio will reopen Friday with limited services. Services will be available by appointment only and are currently limited to customers seeking a first-time Texas driver’s license, commercial driver license, learner license or identification card, or anyone needing to take a driving test. Greg Abbott said the Texas DPS will open offices in four phases, starting May 26 with offices in the Northwest and West Texas regions. DPS offices in South and Central Texas will reopen May 29 but customers can already start scheduling appointments online. DPS officials said the following safety measures will be in place as DL offices reopen:

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas Schlitterbahn New Braunfels and Schlitterbahn Galveston are set to reopen mid-June with enhanced safety measures and operational changes throughout both parks, according to an announcement from the water park. Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation Tuesday that expanded services and activities that are allowed to reopen, including water parks which will be allowed to reopen on Friday. Water parks are required to keep customer capacity to 25% of normal operating limits and video arcades within the parks are to remain closed, according to the proclamation. Texas Governor announces more openings: Water parks, recreational sports, drivers edThe safety of our guests and associates has always been, and will always be, our top priority, Schlitterbahn officials said on Tuesday. An exact date for reopening the two Schlitterbahn parks has not yet been announced.

SAN ANTONIO Water parks, recreational sports programs for adults, driver education programs, and food-court dining areas inside shopping malls have all been given reopen dates under Phase II of the states plan to reopen safely. Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation Tuesday that expanded services and activities that are allowed to reopen, including water parks which will be allowed to reopen on Friday. Overnight camping reopens at Texas State Parks, reservations can be made starting this weekWater parks have to limit capacity to 25% of normal operating limits and video arcades within the parks are to remain closed, according to the proclamation. Recreational sports programs for adults can resume Sunday, however, games and similar competitions may not begin until June 15th. The proclamation states that all driver education programs can resume operations immediately.

SAN ANTONIO – Rewards members for Santikos and EVO Entertainment have a new perk: free movie tickets. San Antonio-based Santikos has announced that it will load two free movie tickets into the accounts of reward members every Thursday. EVO Entertainment also announced a similar deal, except with four free tickets. Santikos Entertainment offering one free movie ticket a day for active military, veteransEVO also said Elevate Members will receive up to 20% off food and drinks, depending on their “member tier.” For more information, click here. Because of the delay in movie premieres, both EVO and Santikos are offering a variety of newer and classic flicks for $5.

Greg Abbott appeared on KSAT 12 News at Noon on Tuesday to answer questions from KSAT 12 News anchors Ursula Pari and David Sears about the COVID-19 response in the state and his recent decision to expand reopening businesses in Texas. In Phase 2 of reopening Texas, restaurants will be allowed to expand dine-in seating capacity to 50%, bars can operate at 25% capacity starting on May 22, and child care centers can open immediately. Surge response teams are tasked with responding to hot spots, performing massive testing and ensuring that infected people are separated from healthy individuals. He said the typical hot spots are jails, nursing homes and meat packing plants, and once you eliminate the hot spots, the amount of positive cases “look fairly steady,” he said. Answer: Abbott said the State Department of Health Services is providing mental health services for residents.

A prescription is required if you need a massagePublished: May 15, 2020, 12:32 pmPhysicians and chiropractors can once again provide services following the COVID-19 shutdown, yet licensed massage therapists cannot.

Greg Abbott will be on KSAT-TV at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday to answer questions from KSAT anchors Ursula Pari and David Sears about the COVID-19 response in the state and his recent decision to start re-opening businesses in Texas. The governor will answer questions over satellite and the interview will be broadcast live. You can watch the interview live on KSAT-TV or on the livestream below of the KSAT News at Noon. In San Antonio, city officials announced Monday that asymptomatic residents can now be tested for the novel coronavirus, signaling a ramp-up in testing capabilities. CLICK HERE FOR MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE FROM KSAT.

Greg Abbott has released his plans to reopen Texas. Here’s what we knowDuring a live interview on KSAT-TV on Thursday, Abbott said the best experts in the state have weighed in on the matter. Earlier this month the rate of positive cases was at 10% and it’s closer to 6% now, Abbott said. The rate of positive cases must go down or stay flat. As of Thursday morning, nearly 27,054 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Texas, according to Texas Health and Human Services with 12,054 recoveries and 732 deaths.