Thread by @Cara_TXZEAL

Gov Abbott presser:

17 day COVID decline and hospitalization rate decline.
Too many losses but 3rd most recoveries of any state.
Many have lost jobs. Many have lost businesses.

Lists all the things TX has done and what the Nat'l Guard has done throughout TX.

Tripled TX Workforce Commission staff.

Goal is to get those Texans back to work.

EO to "Stay At Home" expires Apr 30 and will allow it to expire Apr 30.

EO supersedes and takes precedence over any and all city and county orders.

Now time to re-open TX safely after 4/30

Thanks to physicians & medical teams and physicians at state and federal level.

There's a reason all businesses cannot open at once.

Hong Kong, Japan, China, & Singapore experiencing increased COVID cases w/Singapore's bigger than 1st

Phase One - begins May with increased testing

Phase Two - MAY begin May 18th depending on data we see from Phase One.

Phase Three - ???

Phase One:
Emphasizes importance of vulnerable population protection

Senior living center infectious disease new protocols

May 1st - businesses that can open safely, driven by physicians & adherence to protocols

Businesses that are allowed limited to max of 25% occupancy.

IF Phase One works, Phase Two will allow occupancy to 50%. Businesses are NOT required to reopen.

gov.texas.gov/openTexas SEE LIST of which businesses can open including some libraries and museums.
Site is currently experience too much traffic

Sports - no more than 4 participants at a time .. like golf and tennis. Phase Two- if Phase One works, more would be allowed.

All docs and nurses allowed to return to work as long as hospitals retain 50% capacity for COVID.

No bars, no salons, nor barbershops, no gyms - maybe Phase Two around May 18

Some counties with some requirements will not be opened up yet.

Contract Tracing - mobilizing another 1000 tracers in addition to 1157 current ones.

Then will build by month end with another 4000 tracers.

I missed the # of tests per day that we have to hit.

Safe and strategic game plan to open Texas safely.

WH Task Force approves of the Texas plan to re-open in phases.

Roadmap taken from WH Task Force recommendations for Texas.

Q&A:

Q - Always people who think this is too early. What do you say?
A - We have not done this w/out express confidence of our medical advisors.

Phase Two- will come around May 18 as long as there are no flare ups!

# who test positive is not the criteria.
Criteria is hotspots, hospitalizations, deaths, etc. - combined data not 1 piece or another.

Masks: strongly recommend everyone wear a mask.
NO jurisdiction can impose a penalty or fine for not wearing a mask.

ME: So no Houston and Dallas you cannot mandate it.

Believe we will have available 26K tests per day.
As important is contact tracing.

Supply chain issues for testing easing with availability of test kits, components, reagents, etc.

Yes, there are levels of enforcement within the new EO.

I still cannot get the governor's site to open ... not even his main page ... so I can see the full list of businesses allowed to open May 1.