AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF)-Governor Greg Abbott provided an update on Texas’ continued response to COVID-19. The Governor discussed several steps the state is taking to mitigate the spread of the virus in recent weeks, including increasing enforcement of health and safety regulations, rapidly increasing testing in hot spots, and working with hospitals throughout the state to ensure they have the ability to treat Texans who test positive for COVID-19.
“Appropriate authorities are increasing enforcement, for example, TABC is shutting down overcrowded bars, counties are closing things like river park operations that have grown too crowded and some authorities are requiring masks in overcrowded areas,” said Abbott.
The Governor urged Texans and Texas businesses to follow the Minimum Standard Health Protocols established by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as Texas continues to safely and strategically open the economy.
“COVID-19 is now spreading at an unacceptable rate in the state of Texas, and it must be corralled,” said Governor Abbott. “We have several strategies to reduce the spread without shutting Texas back down, but it is up to all of us to do our part to protect ourselves and others. We need all Texans to follow the safety protocols developed by our team of medical experts, including staying home if you are sick or at risk, sanitizing your hands, social distancing, and wearing face coverings or masks. COVID-19 hasn’t gone away, but neither has our ability to slow the spread of it. Texans have shown that we don’t have to choose between jobs and health—we can have both. We can protect lives while also restoring livelihoods. Together, we will keep Texans safe and we will keep our state open for business.”
Govenor Abbott highly encouraged everyone to wear a face mask or face covering.
“I know that some people feel that wearing a mask is inconvenient or it can be an infringement of freedom but I also know that wearing a mask will help us to keep Texas open,” he said.
Abbott said closing Texas is the last possible resort.
“But the way that hospitalizations are spiking, the way that daily new cases are spiking, surely the public can understand that if those spikes continue, additional measures are going to be necessary,” said Abbott.
