Thread by @ErinForYall

Here’s some of the things I’m hoping for in @GovAbbott’s press conference today.

1. Straight talk w/ public about the need to modify behaviors to slow the spread. #maskuptexas

2. Clear guidance to local leaders about what protections they can do on top of gov’s order. #txlege

3. Plans to waive unemployment insurance rules to make it easier for high risk individuals to stay home instead of returning to high risk jobs.

4. Enforceable sanitation and social distancing guidance for every single open business.

5. Straight talk about how many tests/day we have now, how many we need, and when we anticipate having them.

6. Clear plans to protect our most vulnerable community members including regular testing of elder care and medical workers.

I’m already disappointed. Gov is running through “wins” without any context. This is lying by omission. We have a long road ahead, and Texans deserve to know the truth.

The truth is if everyone of us doesn’t continue to work to slow spread, we will see a surge & we will reclose.

Let’s just have a moment to say what a tremendous impact it would have if everyone was wearing masks in this press conference. Missed opportunity @RepDennisBonnen @DanPatrick @GovAbbott

Also note that any credit for Texas having a relatively small case load should go to our courageous mayors and county judges (@LinaHidalgoTX, @JudgeClayJ stand out, as does #HD45’s @tmitchell_tx )who stepped forward when the gov wouldn’t. I hope he doesn’t role back their work.

I appreciate the governor’s emphasis on seniors. But the challenge is that we can’t isolate every who’s medically high risk for #covid19. My grandmother is 92. My dad is a doctor, high risk of exposure. Is he supposed to just never see her again?

*roll 🤦🏼‍♀️

Our elderly don’t live alone. Our cancer patients don’t live alone. Our diabetics don’t live alone. We need a systemic approach, not a piecemeal one before adequate testing is available.

I’m glad to hear the Gov mention safe standards for businesses. Are these going to be enforceable? How? Can locals require more sanitation and social distancing standards?

So now restaurants can be open as long as there’s no more than 25% of the seats filled. I still don’t feel comfortable going out to eat, and I know I’m not alone.

Also glad that the governor is emphasizing contact tracing. It’s critical.

But experts predict we need at least 180,000 contact tracers nationwide. The gov’s goal of 4,000 falls very very short.

And we need them in place before we reopen restaurants and movie theaters.

And the governor didn’t say a single word about wearing masks.

Wearing a cloth face covering in public is recommended by the CDC. Why the oversight?

Credit where credit is due. Thank you @DanPatrick for asking folks to wear masks!

What’s wild is that the gov is taking this victory lap while case counts are still rising in Texas, while we still have inadequate testing, and while we still have an incomplete picture of what’s happening in our nursing homes.

I am so worried about the folks who are about to be called back to work who don’t have childcare (b/c schools closed) and will be kicked off unemployment. Also the high risk folks who won’t feel safe to return to work.

Okay, now I am just furious. @GovAbbott’s new order supersedes local mask-wearing requirements.

This is wrong. Let locals who have the courage do the right thing. He is undermining CDC recommendations. And Abbott still hasn’t even said that folks should wear a mask.

It’s time for community pressure to push businesses to require masks. Vote with your dollar. Choose places for your essential shopping who require their workers and customers to wear masks. Choose places that go above and beyond to keep their customers and employees safe.

NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD TO JUST STAY HOME

Thousands of Texans are about to get kicked off unemployment because of this order, and @GovAbbott didn’t even acknowledge they exist.