EYEWITNESS NEWS WE NOW TURN TO GOV. GREG ABBOTT WHO IS
ANNOUNCING HIS PLANS TO REOPEN
TEXAS BUSINESSES. LET'S LISTEN
IN. TRAGICALLY LOST OUR LIVES
ECONOMIC DAMAGE HAS HIT EVEN
MORE AMERICANS THAN THE CORONA
VIRUS ITSELF MORE THAN 22
MILLION AMERICANS HAVE FILED
FOR UNEMPLOYMENT MORE THAN A
MILLION TEXANS HAVE FILED
UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS BUSINESSES
HAVE SHUTTERED PAYCHECKS
DISAPPEAR. FOOD BANK LINES ARE
SWELLING ACROSS TEXAS AS MORE
FAMILIES SEEK FOOD THAT THEY
DESPERATELY NEED WILL IN
TYPICAL TEXAS FASHION. YOU HAVE
COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT ONE
ANOTHER. YOU HAVE MADE PERSONAL
SACRIFICES TO ENSURE THAT OUR
STATE SLOWS THE SPREAD OF COBRA
19 YOU HELPED TO REDUCE
THE NUMBER OF TEXANS WHO NEEDED
HOSPITAL CARE. YOU TRULY HELP
TO SAVE LIVES. NOW TEXAS NEEDS
YOU TO CONTINUE THOSE EFFORTS.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE
ARE ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR
THE DOCTORS THE NURSES
THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND ALL
MEDICAL PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN
BATTLING ON THE FRONTLINE
AGAINST THIS INVISIBLE ENEMY
WE'RE ALSO THANKFUL TO
THE UNSUNG HEROES SERVING AS
CHILD CARE STAFF GROCERY CLERKS
FOOD SERVICE PROVIDERS AND
THE FOLKS WHO CLEAN OUR
HOSPITALS AND WE'RE GRATEFUL
FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP VICE
PRESIDENT PENCE AND THE ENTIRE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR BEING
AVAILABLE TO ME AND MY FELLOW
GOVERNORS 24 7 THROUGHOUT THIS
ENTIRE PANDEMIC ALSO WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF
THE TEXAS HOUSE AND TEXAS
SENATE FOR THEIR ONGOING
LEADERSHIP IN THEIR DISTRICTS
AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF
OUR LOCAL LEADERS FOR THEIR
CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AS WE
COLLECTIVELY RESPOND TO
THE CORONAVIRUS IN TEXAS
BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS BY
EVERYONE TO SLOW THE SPREAD
WE'RE NOW BEGINNING TO SEE
GLIMMERS THAT THE WORST OF
COVERED 19 MAY SOON BE BEHIND
US. THE NUMBER OF INFECTIONS IN
HOSPITALIZED NATIONS IS
BEGINNING TO LEVEL OFF. WE HAVE
A STEADY SUPPLY OF PPE LIKE
FACE MASKS WE HAVE PLENTY OF
HOSPITAL ROOMS AND VENTILATORS
TO TREAT OUR FELLOW TEXANS AND
THE DEATHS WHILE FAR TOO HIGH
WILL NOT COME CLOSE TO
THE EARLY DIRE PREDICTIONS AND
I'LL ADD THIS. TEXAS HAS
THE SECOND MOST RECOVERIES FROM
KOBE 19 OF ALL STATES IN
AMERICA WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED
THAT WE CAN CORRAL THE CORONA
VIRUS. WE CONTINUE INCREASING
OUR TESTING CAPABILITIES TO
HELP US IDENTIFY AND CARE FOR
TEXANS WHO HAVE COVERED 19 NEW
STRATEGIES ARE BEING USED BY
PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND
THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO CONTAIN
THE CORONAVIRUS THINGS LIKE
CHECKING TEMPERATURE DISTANCING
PRACTICES AND BETTER SANITATION
STANDARDS WE'VE SHOWN THAT WE
CAN BOTH CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS
TO CONTAIN THE CORONAVIRUS
WHILE ALSO ADOPTING SAFETY
STANDARDS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO
BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REOPENING
BUSINESS IN TEXAS SO TODAY I'M
ISSUING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT OUTLINES
HOW WE GO ABOUT OPENING
THE TEXAS ECONOMY HELPING YOU
RETURN TO WORK USING THE SAFER
STANDARDS TO CONTAIN THE CORONA
VIRUS. NOW IN OPENING TEXAS WE
MUST BE GUIDED BY DATA AND BY
DOCTORS WE MUST PUT HEALTH AND
SAFETY FIRST. WE MUST
PRIORITIZE PROTECTING OUR MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WE WILL
BE GETTING INPUT FROM MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS AS WELL AS
BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS
TO DETERMINE THE SAFE AND SURE
WAY TO REOPEN BUSINESS IN TEXAS
WITHOUT SPURRING THE SPREAD OF
THE CORONA VIRUS TO GUIDE THIS
EFFORT. I HAVE FORMED A
STATEWIDE STRIKE FORCE TO OPEN
TEXAS AND THE TEAM INCLUDES LT.
GOVERNOR DAN PATRICK SPEAKER OF
THE HOUSE DENNIS BONHAM
ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON AND
CONTROLLER GLEN HAGER. THEY ARE
JOINED BY A TEAM OF NATIONALLY
RECOGNIZED MEDICAL ADVISERS WHO
WILL INFORM US ABOUT THE BEST
HEALTHCARE STANDARDS TO PREVENT
THE SPREAD OF COLBERT 19. THOSE
ADVISERS INCLUDE
ADVISERS INCLUDE THE COMMISSIONER FOR STATE
HEALTH SERVICES DR. JOHN HELLER
STEPPED THEY ALSO INCLUDE DR.
MARK MCCLELLAN HE SERVED BOTH
AS FDA COMMISSIONER AND
MEDICAID AND MEDICARE
ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA. IT ALSO
INCLUDES AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE
SPECIALIST AND DIRECTOR OF
TESTING AND TRACING OF KOBE 19
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS DELL
MEDICAL SCHOOL. DR. PARKER
HUDSON AND THEY INCLUDE DR.
JOHN ZAHAU WAS THE EXECUTIVE
VICE CHANCELLOR FOR HEALTH
AFFAIRS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
TEXAS SYSTEM. THEY WILL WORK
TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A MEDICAL
ARCHITECTURE TO COMPREHENSIVELY
TEST AND TRACE COVERED 19 THAT
WILL ENABLE TEXAS TO GRADUALLY
AND SAFELY BEGIN THE PROCESS OF
RETURNING TO WORK AND RETURNING
TO OTHER ACTIVITIES. WHILE WE
WAIT FOR THE IMMUNIZATIONS THAT
WILL END THE THREAT OF KOBE 19
OUR MEDICAL TEAM WILL WORK WITH
AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS AND
COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO WILL
SHARE INFORMATION AND
INNOVATIVE IDEAS TO HELP
BUSINESSES STRATEGICALLY REOPEN
WHILE ALSO CONTAINING
THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS
THEY INCLUDE ENTREPRENEURS LIKE
KENDRA SCOTT AND MATTRESS MAT
JIM MCKINNELL WORLD RENOWNED
TECH LEADERS LIKE MICHAEL DELL
AND ROBERT SMITH. ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT LEADERS LIKE ROSS
PEROT AND BARBARA SMALL
BUSINESS LEADERS LIKE CELIA
COSTA AND MARCY VILLAREAL.
ECONOMIC EXPERTS LIKE RICHARD
FISHER THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND
CEO OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE IN
DALLAS AND DINING AND
ENTERTAINMENT TRAIL BLAZERS
LIKE TILLMAN FOR TITA AND
DALLAS NOW MAX MILLER BILL
MILLER'S RESTAURANTS AND SAN
ANTONIO TEXAS NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS AND LEADERS LIKE
NANCY KINDRED AND KIRK WATSON
THE FOUNDING DEAN OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HOBBY
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS THIS
TEAM WILL COLLABORATE WITH
WORKING GROUPS TO OPEN UP TEXAS
WHILE KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES
SAFE. THERE WILL BE LED BY A
CHAIRMAN WHO HAS SUCCESSFULLY
RUN BUSINESSES AND KNOWS HIS
WAY AROUND THE CAPITAL. JAMES
HUFFINES HERE WILL PRESIDE OVER
A BULL TIME STAFF SPEARHEADED
BY MIKE TOOMEY A PROVEN CHIEF
OPERATING OFFICER WHO KNOWS HOW
TO QUICKLY DELIVER RESULTS. I
WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'VE
ALREADY BEGUN WORKING WITH THIS
TEAM ABOUT NEXT STEPS FOR
TEXAS. JAMES HUFFINES AND
THE FULL TIME STAFF HAVE BEEN
WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK AND
THE TEAM OF ADVISERS HAS
ALREADY FINISHED THEIR FIRST
MEETING AND THEY HAVE BEGUN
THE PROCESS OF MAKING
RECOMMENDATIONS AS A RESULT OF
OUR COMBINED EFFORTS I AM
ISSUING EXECUTIVE ORDERS TODAY
THAT WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF
OPENING TEXAS NOW UNDERSTAND
THIS OPENING TEXAS AS MUST
OCCUR IN STAGES OBVIOUSLY NOT
ALL BUSINESSES CAN OPEN ALL AT
ONCE ON MAY THE 1ST. SOME
BUSINESSES IF FULLY OPEN
WITHOUT BETTER DISMISSING
STANDARDS WOULD BE MORE LIKELY
TO SET US BACK RATHER THAN TO
PROPEL US FORWARD A MORE
STRATEGIC APPROACH IS REQUIRED
TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T REOPEN
ONLY TO HAVE TO SHUT DOWN ONCE
AGAIN. FIRST WE'LL BE OPENINGS
ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT INCLUDE
ACTIVITIES THAT SHOULD POSE
MINIMAL OR NO THREAT TO
EXPANDING KOBE 19. SO SECOND
ADDITIONAL OPENINGS WILL BE
ANNOUNCED ON APRIL THE TWENTY
SEVENTH. AFTER FURTHER INPUT
FROM THE ADVISORS AND
THE MEDICAL STAFF. THIRD EVEN
MORE OPENINGS WILL BE ANNOUNCED
IN MAY WHEN IT IS DETERMINED
THAT THE INFECTION RATE
CONTINUES TO DECLINE THAT
HOSPITAL CAPACITY REMAINS
AVAILABLE AND WHEN TESTING
CAPACITIES ARE SUFFICIENT TO
DETECT AND CONTAIN OUTBREAKS OF
COVER 19 THE FIRST EXECUTIVE
ORDER TODAY ESTABLISHES
THE GOVERNORS STRIKE FORCE TO
OPEN TEXAS. IT SETS OUT
THE ORGANIZATION AND THE DUTIES
OF THE STRIKE FORCE. THEY WILL
GATHER INFORMATION AND MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WAYS THAT
BUSINESSES CAN REOPEN AS WELL
AS THE SAFE PRACTICES. THOSE
BUSINESSES SHOULD USE MY NEXT
EXECUTIVE ORDER FOCUSES ON
DOCTORS NURSES HOSPITALS AND
MEDICAL STAFF. MANY DOCTORS
NURSES HAVE BEEN SIDELINED
BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO POSTPONE
NON-ESSENTIAL MEDICAL
NON-ESSENTIAL MEDICAL PROCEDURES THAT WAS DONE TO
FREE UP HOSPITAL CAPACITY AND
THE PPE NEEDED TO TREAT KOBE 19
PATIENTS WELL TODAY. TEXAS HAS
PLENTY OF HOSPITAL CAPACITY. WE
HAVE A SOLID SUPPLY CHAIN PPE
AND MANY OF OUR DOCTORS AND
NURSES HAVE PATIENTS WHO
DESPERATELY NEED A MEDICAL
TREATMENT? IT IS TIME TO ALLOW
THOSE DOCTORS AND NURSES TO
RETURN TO WORK. HOWEVER IT MUST
BE DONE IN WAYS TO ENSURE THAT
WE WILL BE ABLE TO TREAT KOBE
19 PATIENTS. ADEQUATE SUPPLIES
HOSPITAL BEDS AND PPE MUST BE
MAINTAINED TO ENSURE THAT ALL
KOBE 19 NEEDS ARE MET SO
EFFECTIVE APRIL THE 22ND WHICH
OBVIOUSLY IS NEXT WEEK CURRENT
RESTRICTIONS ON SURGERY WILL BE
LOOSENED. THIS WILL ALLOW
DOCTORS TO DIAGNOSE AND TREAT
MORE MEDICAL CONDITIONS WITHOUT
NEEDING TO GET AN EXCEPTION.
THIS ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS WOULD
BE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR
SUSPECTED CANCER NOW WHILE
LOOSENING RESTRICTIONS FOR
DOCTORS. WE ARE ENHANCING
STANDARDS TO PROTECT OUR
VULNERABLE SENIORS WHO LIVE IN
NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED
LIVING CENTERS TO PROTECT
GUESTS. COBURN 19 GETTING INTO
THOSE LIVING CENTERS WE ARE
REQUIRING INFECTION CONTROL
POLICIES AND WE ARE MINIMIZING
THE MOVEMENT OF STAFF BETWEEN
THOSE FACILITIES. NEXT IS MY
EXECUTIVE ORDER ABOUT
THE RETAIL SECTOR IN TEXAS
RETAILERS ARE SUCH AN IMPORTANT
PART OF OUR ECONOMY. THEY
PROVIDE YOU WITH PRODUCTS THAT
YOU NEED AND WANT AND THEY
CREATE SO MANY JOBS DURING OUR
BATTLE WITH COBRA 19 OVER
THE PAST MONTH AND A HALF.
WE'VE SEEN SOME RETAILERS SELL
PRODUCTS WITHOUT CUSTOMERS
GOING INTO STORES AND HENCE
REDUCING EXPOSURE TO
THE CORONAVIRUS. YOU SIMPLY
ORDER THE PRODUCT AND YOU PICK
IT UP OR HAVE IT DELIVERED TO
YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN THAT
THIS MODEL WORKS WHILE ALSO
CONTAINING KOBE 19 WE BELIEVE
THAT ALL STORES IN TEXAS SHOULD
BE ABLE TO OPERATE RETAIL TO GO
BEGINNING NEXT FRIDAY WHEN A
WEEK FROM TODAY. THIS TEMPORARY
PLAN ALLOWS YOU TO BE ABLE TO
ACCESS MORE RETAILERS WHILE
ALSO MINIMIZING CONTACT WITH
OTHERS. IT ALSO SETS STANDARDS
ON RETAILERS AND THEN ENSURE
SAFE PRACTICES INTENDED TO
REDUCE EXPOSURE TO OCTOBER 19.
TO LEARN WHAT THOSE STANDARDS
ARE. GO TO D S H S DOT TEXAS
DOT GEO V SLASH CORONA S NEXT
YOUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
ARE IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY TIMES
LIKE THESE. GOING TO PASS IS AN
EFFECTIVE WAY TO ADDRESS THOSE
DATES SO STATE PARKS WILL BE
REOPENED BEGINNING THIS COMING
MONDAY. NOW IN ORDER TO REDUCE
POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION OF KOBE
19 STATE PARKS VISITORS MUST
WEAR FACE COVERINGS OR MASS
ALSO VISITORS MUST MAINTAIN A
DISTANCE OF AT LEAST 6 FEET
FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT MEMBERS
OF THE SAME HOUSEHOLD. AND FOR
NOW VISITORS CANNOT GATHER IN
GROUPS LARGER THAN 5 TODAY'S
EXECUTIVE ORDER ALSO ADDRESSES
SCHOOLS. THE TEAM OF DOCTORS
ADVISING US HAVE DETERMINED
THAT IT WOULD BE UNSAFE TO
ALLOW STUDENTS TOGETHER IN
SCHOOLS FOR THE FORESEEABLE
FUTURE AS A RESULT SCHOOL
CLASSROOMS ARE CLOSED FOR
THE REMAINDER OF THE 2019 2020
SCHOOL YEAR. THAT INCLUDES ALL
PUBLIC PRIVATE AND HIGHER
EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS NOW.
TEACHERS WILL BE ALLOWED IN
THE CLASSROOM FOR VIDEO
INSTRUCTION IF THEY CHOOSE OR
TO PERFORM ADMINISTRATIVE
DUTIES OR TO CLEAN OUT THEIR
CLASSROOMS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION
T.J.. COMMISSIONER MIKE MCGRATH
WILL SOON PROVIDE MORE DETAILS
ABOUT HOW TO PROCEED AND HE
WILL EXPLORE HOW TO CONDUCT
GRADUATION CEREMONIES FOR
HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSIONER
HARRISON KELLER WILL PROVIDE
SIMILAR ADVICE TO COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES ABOUT HOW TO
CONCLUDE PROGRAMS THIS SEMESTER
AND HOW TO OPERATE SEMESTERS
THIS COMING SUMMER NEXT STEPS
ON MONDAY APRIL 27. WE WILL
ANNOUNCE ADDITIONAL WAYS TO
OPEN TEXAS IN THESE NEXT 10
DAYS. WE WILL PREPARE A PHASED
IN STRATEGY TO OPEN TEXAS IN A
SAFE WAY. IT WILL REQUIRE
COMPREHENSIVE TESTING AND
ASSURANCES OF HOSPITAL
READINESS FOR KOBE 19 PATIENTS.
IT WILL FOCUS ON CONTAINING
THE RISK OF RESURGENCE OF KOBE
19 AND PROTECTING OUR MOST
VULNERABLE TEXAS ON APRIL
THE TWENTY SEVENTH REVISED
PLANS WILL BE ANNOUNCED THE NEW
PLANS WILL BE WILL BE BASED ON
HOW WELL CONTAINED KOBE 19
YEARS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THE PLANS WILL CONSIDER
STANDARDS TO PROTECT OUR
VULNERABLE RESIDENTS WHILE
ALLOWING OTHERS TO INCREASE
THEIR INTERACTIONS THEY WILL
OUTLINE WHICH PRACTICES ARE
SAFE FOR EMPLOYERS TO USE? THEY
WILL CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY
OF OPENING MORE VENUES VENUES
LIKE RESTAURANTS MOVIE THEATERS
AND OTHER GATHERING PLACES THAT
CAN PROVIDE SAFE DISMISSING
PRACTICES. THEY WILL ALSO
CONSIDER EXPANDING ELECTIVE
SURGERIES. WE WILL CONSIDER IN
FACT ALL STRATEGIES THAT MAY
OPEN UP TEXAS WHILE ALSO
KEEPING US PROTECTED FROM
THE EXPANSION OF COVER 19 ME
CLOSE WITH THIS TEXANS ARE
BATTLING A COLOSSAL CHALLENGE
AN INVISIBLE ENEMY THAT HAS
TESTED OUR LIVES AND TESTED OUR
LIVELIHOODS. PART OF THE TEXAS
BRAND HOWEVER IS OUR ABILITY TO
OVERCOME CHALLENGES WE HAVE
OVERCOME FAR MORE CHALLENGES
THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY COUNT
TOGETHER WE CAN BEND THE CURVE
TOGETHER WE CAN OVERCOME THIS
PANDEMIC WE CAN GET FOLKS BACK
TO WORK WE CAN ADOPT SAFE
STRATEGIES THAT PREVENT
THE SPREAD OF KOBE 19 AND STEP
BY STEP WE WILL OPEN TEXAS NEXT
I'LL TURN OVER TO JAMES
HUFFINES THANK YOU GOVERNOR.
THESE ARE INDEED UNPRECEDENTED
TIMES BUT AS TEXANS HAVE PROVED
TIME AND TIME AGAIN WE ARE A
RESILIENT STATE AND WITH YOUR
LEADERSHIP I KNOW WE WILL MAKE
IT THROUGH THIS TOGETHER. I AM
HONORED TO JOIN YOU AND ALL OF
THE OUTSTANDING MEMBERS OF THIS
TASK FORCE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE
OF TEXAS AND TO HELP LEAD OUR
STATE THROUGH THIS CHALLENGE AS
THE GOVERNOR SAID. THIS TEAM
EXISTS TO INFORM HIM ON
THE BEST STRATEGIES TO
REVITALIZE THE TEXAS ECONOMY
AND GET TEXAS BACK TO WORK
WHILE PROTECTING AND I'LL
REPEAT WHILE PROTECTING
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL
TEXANS. AND WE HAVE ALREADY
BEGUN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK
TO ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION IT'S
CLEAR THAT ALL TEXANS ARE
HURTING ECONOMICALLY AND ARE
READY TO GET BACK TO WORK SO
THAT THEY CAN BEGIN TO EARN A
PAYCHECK AGAIN BUT I WANT TO
REITERATE WHAT THE GOVERNOR
SAID HIS MAIN POINT IS THAT
SLOWING THE SPREAD OF THIS
VIRUS AND KEEPING TEXANS SAFE
REMAINS OUR TOP PRIORITY. EVERY
RECOMMENDATION EVERY ACTION BY
THE GOVERNOR WAS GOVERNOR BAND
WITH OTHER STATE LEADERS LIVE
AT THE STATE CAPITAL. HE IS
ISSUING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT
WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS TO
REOPEN TEXAS BUSINESSES HE SAYS
EFFECTIVE APRIL 22ND. CURRENT
RESTRICTIONS ON SURGERIES WILL
BE LIFTED. HE GAVE ONE EXAMPLE
OF ALLOWING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST
FOR CANCER AS FAR AS RETAIL.
HE'S ALLOWING RETAIL TO GO
STARTING NEXT FRIDAY AND STATE
PARKS WILL ALSO REOPEN STARTING
ON MONDAY AND A BIG
ANNOUNCEMENT HERE FOR STUDENTS.
SCHOOLS WILL REMAIN CLOSED
UNTIL THE REMAINDER OF
THE SCHOOL YEAR AND THAT
INCLUDES PRIVATE AND PUBLIC