Hey y'all. This is @JeremySWallace from the Austin Bureau for the Chronicle. Gov. Greg Abbott is about to hold a press briefing about COVID-19. I'll be live tweeting during it to keep everyone up to date on what's happening.
The briefing comes a day after Texas reported a new record for hospitalizations. Texas has 3,409 people hospitalized with lab-confirmed COVID-19. Abbott has repeatedly stressed that despite the rising hospitalizations, Texas still has plenty of hospital bed capacity.
Gov. Abbott has been steadily re-opening the state's economy since May 1. Here is a timeline of some key reopening dates. 
Abbott said our early goal was to slow spread of virus to prevent overrunning hospitals. Said we succeeded in that goal
Abbott says if hospitalization rate increases too much we have strategies to deal with it without closing down the economy. He says closing Texas again is an absolute last resort.
Gov. Greg Abbott: "Covid 19 is now spreading at an unacceptable rate in the state of Texas and it must be corralled."
Gov. Greg Abbott says he knows many people don't want to wear masks, but said wearing a mask will help keep Texas open.
"Covid has not suddenly gone away," Abbott says.
Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs of the University of Texas System John Zerwas makes a pitch to health care professionals to put their name into volunteer with fighting COVID-19 in case they are needed down the road.
Gov. Greg Abbott says he's spoken with hospital CEOs around the state. He said he was re-assured that they have capabilities to make sure everyone who needs a bed will have one.
Gov. Greg Abbott again stressing that mask are key way to fight COVID-19. He said he's warning businesses not wearing masks could result in businesses shutting down again. Stresses its no permanent, but we need to get to point where we have treatments to fight COVID.
Gov. Abbott stands by having people vote in person instead of by mail for the runoff elections. Says he extended early voting for July 14 election. If people wear masks, it can prevent spread of COVID while voting
Gov. Abbott says way hospitalizations are spiking, if they continue we are going to have to respond. Another doubling of those numbers over next month, then it will mean we are in an urgent situation and will need new actions to curb COVID-19
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he's convinced if Texans do the safe distancing and mask wearing, it can help stem this current surge we are facing.
"We remain flexible with regard to implementing additional strategies if needed to make sure that we do contain the coronavirus," Gov. Greg Abbott says.
"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 to make sure that we maintain the health & safety of the people of the state of TX"
Okay y'all that's it from the Abbott press briefing. Feel free to follow me at @JeremySWallace for continuing updates on state and national politics and the ongoing battle against COVID-19. Read more about what Abbott had to say here: houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas…
