Last Friday, April 17th, Governor Abbott announced his executive orders which will easily phase reopening of Texas businesses. Included in this orders are reopenings of state parks, lessening of surgery restrictions and additional, continued goals to decrease the spread of COVID-19 in Texas.
Abbott stated during the announcement at the Texas Capitol: “We’re now beginning to see glimmers that the worst of COVID-19 may soon be behind us.”
The Governor's executive order created a strike force that includes Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Speaker of the House Dennis Bonnen, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Comptroller Glenn Hegar. Partnering with the strike force will be a team of medical advisers, which in turn will all work side by side with a committee of business leaders. The main goal here is to come up with safe ways to reopen businesses in Texas.
“They will work together to develop a medical architecture to comprehensively test and trace COVID-19 that will enable Texas to gradually and safely begin the process of returning to work and returning to other activities while we wait for the immunizations that will end the threat of COVID-19,” Abbott said.
Another executive order by the governor releases some limitations on surgeries, starting April 22nd. In other words, physicians will be able to diagnose and treat patients without an exception. For example, if a patient is diagnosed with cancer; then, that patient will receive any and all treatment necessary, including surgery, if needed.
Furthermore, within this medically based order, seniors living in assisted living facilities and nursing homes will receive additional protection. This protection will be in the way of additional infection control policies and restriction of movement of staff between units within facilities.
The next executive order by the governor focused on retail sales in Texas. “Retailers are such an important part of our economy,” said Abbott. “They provide you with products you need and want, and create so many jobs.”
Governor Abbott's goal for all Texas retail stores is to be proceeding "retail to go" starting April 24th. Products will be sold "through pickup, by mail, or delivery to the customer's doorstep.
“Because we’ve seen that this model works while also containing COVID-19, we believe that all stores in Texas to be able to operate retail to go, beginning next Friday,” Abbott said.
“This temporary plan allows you to access more retailers while also minimizing contact with others,” Abbott explained.
A list of standards that Texas retailers must follow to limit the spread of COVID-19 can be found at: <DSHS.texas.gov/coronavirus>. The agency has also published a list of requirements.
Also included in the governor's announcements was the reopening of state parks beginning April 20th. However, Governor Abbott said park visitors must wear face coverings, practice social distancing and avoid grouping in more than five people at a time.
According to Governor Abbott, his team of medical advisers have recommended that it is unsafe for students to gather at schools for an undetermined amount of time. Accordingly, another executive order was issued for all public, private and higher education campuses to remain closed throughout the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. This order gives the teachers the option to choose to return to schools for virtual instruction, administrative duties or to clean out their classrooms.
Later that Friday afternoon, Texas Education Agency issued a statement saying school districts across Texas have worked hard to make the transition to virtual learning. “Students must continue to receive daily academic support from the teachers and schools for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.”
Last Friday, the governor also mentioned, in a teasing manner, that his administration will release additional steps to reopen Texas and decrease the risk of COVID-19 rebound. “In these next 10 days we will prepare a phased-in strategy to open Texas in a safe way,” he said.
Dennis Bonnen, Texas House Speaker, talked about restarting the economy and returning to a "new" normal, that "social distancing is still going to have to occur.”
Leary of Governor Abbott's plan for the state's economic kickstart, Texas Democrats are relating they feel there are requirements that must be met prior to any eased restrictions. Some Representatives feel that more testing of the virus needs to be done within communities to determine stats of positive versus negative results.
In last week's article by Wes Rapaport, Matthew Prendergast, Maggie Glynn and Kevin Clark, major business owners were interviewed about Governor Abbott's new executive order regarding the upcoming reopening of retail businesses.
Hemline (a women's clothing store) has a business in downtown Austin. Katie Pierce, Chief Operating Officer, feels the governor's order is "good news." However, she says it will be better if the people can come into the store. . . wearing masks." According to Pierce, foot traffic brings in more money.
In conclusion, Austin's mayor, Steve Adler, compared the risk of "retail to go" to that of construction sites and grocery store jobs. . . how well are people going to adhere to the policy of wearing face coverings?" That's the ultimate concern. . . how are others going to react to the policies and guidelines? Perhaps, we may have to have specific countywide monitoring in place to better enforce the wearing of face masks and safe social distances.
Even though there may be positive COVID-19 cases in San Saba County we are not aware of, we should continue with caution by wearing face masks, using good hand hygiene and adhering to safe social distancing practices, plus stay home when possible. This mantra, or "new normal," may be around for awhile, but it's down in my book as one to stay until it appears absolutely "safe" to come out from hiding!