Texas is reopening its beaches this week, despite a rapidly rising death toll from COVID-19

REUTERS/Adrees Latif

• Effective May 1, Texas beaches will be open to the public.
• The decision was made by the Texas General Land Office, led by George P. Bush, son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
• The reopening coincides with the expiration of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's shelter-in-place order — as well as a rise in deaths from COVID-19.
• On April 28, Texas reported 42 new fatalities resulting from the coronavirus — up from 26 a week before and 11 at the start of the month. Overall, at least 732 people have died from COVID-19 in the Lone Star State, which has confirmed just over 27,000 cases of the disease.
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Texas will be reopening its beaches on Friday, along with restaurants and movie theaters, despite a rising death toll from COVID-19.

In a decision announced April 29, the Texas General Land Office — headed by Commissioner George P. Bush, son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush — rescinded the ability of local governments to prohibit beach access, the Houston Chronicle reported.

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