The Governor’s Plan to Open Texas Released 4/27
“Texans are battling a colossal challenge-an invisible enemy that has tested our lives and our livelihoods-but overcoming challenges is part of who we are as Texas,” said Governor Greg Abbot in the strategic plan to open Texas that was release April 27.
Governor Abbott continued, “We are each called upon to be Texans: to act responsibly as we re-engage in the economy, to continue following all health precautions and sanitizing guidelines, and to care for our vulnerable neighbors. Lives depend on our actions. I know you will respond as Texas.”
The report includes a statement about the spread of COVID-19 from the Chief Medical Officer at Texas Department of State Health Services, John William Hellerstedt, “Based on our current understanding, the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to spread: mainly from person to person; Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about six feet); and via respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes; these droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled.”
While the State of Texas has opened, Hellerstedt emphasized the importance to remain cautious, stating, “People are thought to be most contagious early in their illness, but COVID-19 can be spread to others by infected persons even before they show any symptoms. That is why we must remain cautious-to avoid further spread or a new outbreak.”
According to the report, Texans 65 years of age and older are at a higher risk of illness related to COVID-19 and are urged to follow special guidelines published by the Center for Disease Control.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) confirmed that 76 percent of COVID-19 fatalities in Texas as of April 26 were Texans 65 years of age and older.
Medical professionals and leaders in government are pushing the importance of testing and contact tracing. Both present an unprecedented challenge, but Texas appears to be rising to the challenge stating, “Texas has maximized testing capacity to perform 15,000 - 20,000 tests a day, with a goal to reach 30,000 per day in the near term with rapid turnaround.”
The state’s website shows more than 300 testing sites throughout Texas. For rural places like Olney, the State said there are “at least 17 mobile drive-thru teams [that] have been trained and deployed by the Texas Military Department primarily to serve rural areas, in order to offer state-supported testing in every Texas county.”
Meanwhile, testing is currently focused specifically on hospitalized patients, those in long-term care facilities, healthcare workers and first responders and Texans over the age of 65.
To prevent the spread of the virus, the report has health protocols for individuals, employers, restaurants and customers, retailers and customers, movie theaters, museums and libraries, outdoor sports, churches and places of worship along with several others. The report may be found on the State’s website or reviewed at Olney Enterprise newspaper.
Hellerstedt offers critical health guidelines that Texans must continue to follow as Texas begins to open. These include: staying home if possible, washing hands for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol, covering coughs and sneezes with tissue and properly disposing of the used tissue, avoiding touching your face, disinfecting surfaces and avoiding close contact with people who are ill.