How Will Phase One of Governor Abbott’s ‘Open Texas’ Plan Look in the Basin?

The mayors in Midland and Odessa are hoping businesses will open up using good judgement with the 25% capacity rule.

According to NewsWest 9, the mayors both agree this is not a free for all and that everything can go back to what it was like before the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Practice social distancing and do not treat this weekend like July 4 weekend or Memorial Day weekend or tax-free weekend," Patrick Payton, Midland Mayor said.

Odessa mayor David Turner said, “What I’m most concerned about it is the young people, many times when you're young you think you're 10 feet tall and bulletproof."

Both mayors are leaving it up to the businesses if they want to require masks to be worn in their establishments and/or change their hours of operation.

They are trusting the businesses to obey the 25% capacity rule set by the state.

“We’re not going to be on patrol going up and down the streets taking a headcount of people who are not paying attention to their customers or citizens safety," Payton said.

Mayor Turner added, “Businesses have been asking us to open up for a while, so now it’s up to them to do what is safe.”

The mayors also add that members of the community with compromised immune systems should continue to stay home if possible.