What does resuming the U.S. look like?
Governor Greg Abbott on Friday announced a plan to open Texas, the second-largest state by population and one of the largest economies worldwide. Regardless of initial resistance to a statewide stay-at-home order amid the coronavirus pandemic, Abbott’s executive order shutting down non-essential companies entered into result on April 2.
On Friday, Abbott announced a “strike force” of medical professionals, state leaders and entrepreneur to oversee what he called a “phased” opening of the economy. Schools, however, will remain closed for the remainder of the school year.
State parks will open first, on April 20, but visitors need to use masks or face coverings.
The restriction on optional surgical treatments is set to be lifted on April22 Abbott said this does not include abortions. A federal appeals court stated earlier this week that medication abortions, which involve a patient taking tablets, can continue in Texas in spite of the state’s directive to halt all pregnancy termination “not clinically essential to maintain the life or health” of the patient. Texas is one of numerous states that have tried to halt abortions as a non-essential medical treatment in the middle of the pandemic.
On April 24, all retailers can open for to-go service, but there will no indoor shopping allowed.
If the phased plan works, Abbott will reveal on April 27 if he will raise the statewide stay-at-home mandate and permit dining establishments, bars and theaters to open with social distancing in location.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Providers, there have actually been more than 17,000 cases of coronavirus in Texas, with more than 4,000 of those cases in Harris County. More than 400 people have passed away.
On Friday, 2 of the state’s largest cities, San Antonio and Dallas, required all homeowners to use face masks in public.
