Story at a glance
- Texas recently lifted its stay-at-home order and is permitting businesses to reopen.
- Hair salons and barbershops have been allowed to reopen after some controversy.
- The state house speaker is pointing the finger at larger companies for not taking preventative measures.
In a tweet on May 6, Dennis Bonnen accused employees of several large home improvement stores, which were deemed essential businesses under the state’s stay-at-home order, of violating public health recommendations, such as wearing masks and staying 6 feet apart.
“This responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of the corporate owners who undoubtedly have the financial means to supply and require their employees to wear protective masks and gloves,” Bonnen tweeted, adding that some small businesses have found creative ways to comply with social distancing guidelines and prioritize the health of their employees and customers.
I’m tired of navigating a germ pool in an overcrowded Lowe’s, Home Depot, and WalMart. They haven’t dealt with the devastation of having to turn customers away and yet their behavior might be what keeps hair salons and gyms closed and restaurants at restricted capacity.
Speaker Dennis Bonnen (@RepDennisBonnen) May 4, 2020
The tweets came a day before Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that hair salons and barbershops would be added to the list of businesses permitted to reopen. Abbott’s announcement came hours after two Republican state representatives got haircuts as “an act of civil disobedience,” according to a report from the Texas Tribune.
Days earlier, a Dallas salon owner was jailed after refusing to shut her business. Abbott has since called for the owner’s release.
Originally posted on TheHill.com.
