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Coronavirus updates in Central Texas: Travis County reports 31 new confirmed COVID-19 cases

Here are the latest COVID-19 updates, closures and postponements in Central Texas for Saturday, May 2, as Texas begins to gradually reopen.

AUSTIN, Texas — Editor's note: This blog is no longer active. For the latest updates, check out our new live blog here.

As of Friday, May 1, some restaurants, malls, retail stores and movie theaters have been allowed to reopen at a reduced capacity, but bars, gyms, nail salons and other businesses are not allowed to reopen

The City of Austin has provided guidance on activities and information for businesses that have recently opened, or plan to open soon, under Gov. Abbott’s April 17 Executive Order GA-18 which supersedes some provisions of the “Stay Home – Work Safe” Order.

If you plan on going to a restaurant, you can expect to see some changes such as disposable menus and no condiments on the tables. Here's a checklist of what restaurants are recommended to do. Retail stores will also roll out recommendations for customers such as staying six feet away from others and wearing a face-covering or mask. Here's a list.

Scroll down for the top headlines and latest updates in KVUE's May 2 live blog.

Top Headlines:

COVID-19 Updates:

6 p.m. – Travis County is reporting 31 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Saturday, bringing the total to 1,714 in the county, with 51 deaths. There have been 512 reported recoveries from the virus.

A full breakdown of the cases can be found on the Austin-Travis County online dashboard.

4:40 p.m. – Williamson County is reporting seven new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total in the county to 313. Ten people have died from the virus.

4:10 p.m. – Arkansas Bend Park has been closed due to a large number of visitors.

"In order to manage the safety of visitors and staff, the park is closed for today," Travis County Parks said.

The park will reopen on Sunday with limited capacity.

1:40 p.m. – Pace Bend Park has been closed for the day thanks to a large number of visitors, Travis County Parks said on Twitter. This is the second weekend in a row the park has closed.

11:50 a.m. – After randomly testing 150 people for COVID-19 in Bastrop County, health officials announced there were zero positive results.

“Random testing is done so there is a better understanding of the pattern and spread of COVID-19 in the County,” said Dr. Desmar Walkes, Bastrop County Health Authority. “These tests were handled just like the other 350 we have conducted in Bastrop County and I am confident in the results.”

Officials warned that only 150 tests in a population of 85,000 people are not enough to draw any strong conclusions, but said it is an indicator that the virus might not be prevalent in the county.

8 a.m. – The Central Texas Food Bank hosts another drive-thru distribution event. The event started at 8 a.m. and will go until 1 p.m. at Nelson Field near highways 290 and 183 in East Austin. 

Everyone is asked to stay in their cars, and volunteers will put the food in their trunks. Each box contains about 28 pounds of food and hygiene products.

According to the president of the food bank, they have seen a 200% increase in new people in Travis County using their services.

WATCH: Texas reopens after surge in COVID-19 deaths

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

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