ABBOTT EXTENDS SOCIAL DISTANCING ORDER THROUGH APRIL 30TH, CLOSES SCHOOLS UNTIL MAY 4TH
Governor Greg Abbott has ordered the extension of the state’s social distancing guidelines through the end of April, and the closure of schools through at least May 4th.
The order follows President Donald Trump’s extension of federal social distancing guidelines through April 30th. It also follows an order Sunday from Abbott implementing stricter restrictions on travelers coming into Texas from COVID-19 hotspots.
Abbott at a news conference Tuesday in Austin established a list defining essential services and essential activities for the purpose of his executive order.
Essential services, according to Abbott’s order, are listed as: health care and public health; law enforcement, public safety and other first responders; food and agriculture; energy; waste and wastewater; transportation and logistics; public works and infrastructure support services; communications and information technology; other community or government-based operations and essential functions; critical manufacturing; hazardous materials; financial services; chemical; defense industrial base; commercial facilities; residential/shelter facilities and services; and hygiene products and services.
The full list of services can also be seen online at https://tdem.texas.gov/essentialservices.
Current guidelines permit essential activities like grocery shopping and banking, as long as people keep at least six feet apart. This distance requirement also applies to outdoor physical activities.
In recognition of the upcoming Easter holiday, Abbott also said religious activities can still be performed remotely or while keeping with social distancing requirements, citing drive-up services as a potential alternative.
At the news conference, Abbott confirmed the state has at least 3,266 positive COVID-19 cases, with over 40 deaths. Nearly half of the state’s 254 counties have reported a positive case, and roughly 43,000 people have been tested for the virus.
Abbott said this is not a statewide shelter-in-place or stay-at-home order, saying if it were to be taken literally, people would not be allowed to leave their homes at all. He has previously encouraged local governments to take it upon themselves to enact more strict measures, if need be.
The article has a very extensive list defining Essential Services.
I am not there but have great personal interest, reading here seems like Washington County (and Brenham) leaders are taking a common sense approach to balance life and caution. Brenham is not NYC and Gov Abbott and and our county and city leaders are not Cuomo and DeBlasio.
Also the phrasing of the Texas death count says “nearly half the counties have reported a positive case.” My math then says “nearly is less than, meaning OVER half the 254 counties have not reported a single case.” If the article were reported that way, it would sound different, wouldn’t it? Now, I am well aware that many of those counties are as different from our community as we are from New York City. For context, I am in my 70s personally trying to deal with it, too, as we all are.
Free speech. It is a good thing.
He issued an essential services order. That is not made clear in this article.
My understanding Gov. Abbott said there is a state wide shelter in place except for essentials. Is Brenham not following this order?
Dayna, read the last paragraph.
We need to all be diligent and sensible. Some daycares are still open, so we’ll see an influx there. We can only get certain items online from HEB, so we have to physically go to store just to fulfill essential items. I don’t get it either.