Today, Governor Greg Abbott issued 4 Executive orders to help mitigate the spread of COVID - 19. Below, you will find the text of his Executive Orders as well as a brief press release giving further explanation.
Further, Governor Abbott will be holding a Tele-Town Hall tonight at 7 PM to discuss the COVID-19 outbreak. I have included more details on how to watch below. In the Houston area it will air on The CW channel 39.
If you need any further information or have questions, please feel free to reach out to me or my staff.
God Bless,
Dennis Paul | |
Governor Abbott Issues Executive Orders In Accordance With Federal Guidelines To Mitigate Spread Of COVID-19 In Texas
AUSTIN - Governor Greg Abbott today announced a series of Executive Orders relating to COVID-19 preparedness and mitigation. The four orders serve to limit public gatherings and help reduce exposure for people across the state. These orders are in accordance with federal guidelines issued by the President and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and will aid in the state's efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19. Governor Abbott was joined for the announcement by Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD, Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Chief Nim Kidd, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and Speaker Dennis Bonnen. Commissioner Hellerstedt also announced that he has declared a Public Health Disaster which will give state and local officials additional tools to respond to COVID-19. The Governor's Executive Orders, combined with the Public Health Disaster, provide Texas with enhanced tools and protocols to help state and local partners in their ongoing efforts to respond to, track the progress of, and limit the spread of COVID-19 in Texas. "The State of Texas is at a pivotal moment in our response to COVID-19, and it is imperative that we act now on preemptive measures to slow the spread of this virus," said Governor Abbott. "One of the most effective ways we can do this is by promoting more social distancing and ensuring Texans avoid large group settings such as bars, restaurants, gyms, and schools where the risk of spreading COVID-19 is high. We must also continue to protect our most vulnerable populations, which is why the State of Texas is barring all visitations at nursing homes and retirement or long-term care facilities except in the case of critical assistance. Today’s executive orders are precautionary measures that are in line with guidelines from the CDC and they will strengthen Texas’ ability to safeguard our communities and respond to COVID-19. As Texans, we must continue to work collaboratively to slow the spread of this virus and protect public health." The following orders have been issued by Governor Abbott: - • Order No. 1: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, every person in Texas shall avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people.
- • Order No. 2: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, people shall avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants, and food courts, or visiting gyms or massage parlors; provided, however, that the use of drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options is allowed and highly encouraged throughout the limited duration of this executive order.
- • Order No. 3: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, people shall not visit nursing homes or retirement or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.
- • Order No. 4: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, schools shall temporarily close.
These orders will be effective on a statewide basis starting at 11:59 PM on March 20, 2020 and will end at 11:59 PM on April 3, 2020, subject to extension thereafter based on the status of COVID-19 in Texas and the recommendations of the CDC. This executive order does not prohibit people from visiting a variety of places, including grocery stores, gas stations, parks, and banks, so long as the necessary precautions are maintained to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. This executive order does not mandate sheltering in place. All critical infrastructure will remain operational, domestic travel will remain unrestricted, and government entities and businesses will continue providing essential services. For offices and workplaces that remain open, employees should practice good hygiene and, where feasible, work from home in order to achieve optimum isolation from COVD-19. The more that people reduce their public contact, the sooner COVID-19 will be contained and the sooner this executive order will expire. Under Chapter 81 of the Health and Safety Code, Commissioner Hellerstedt's Public Health Disaster Declaration triggers a number of important tools for state and local officials to respond to COVID-19: - • Texas and local health authorities can more easily require property owners to disinfect, decontaminate, and seal off property that might be contaminated.
- • It authorizes health authorities to take additional control measures that they see fit to control and eradicate the threat to public health.
- • It streamlines the process for state and local health authorities to invoke the courts to enforce quarantines of individuals.
- • Activates enhanced tools for DSHS to collect disease and health information and to share that information with law enforcement personnel and first responders as appropriate.
| | Governor Abbott To Participate In Statewide Television Town Hall With Nexstar Broadcasting To Provide Update On Coronavirus Response
March 17, 2020 | Austin, Texas e Governor and Top State Officials to Address Statewide Response to Coronavirus Outbreak
Governor Greg Abbott and Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. today announced a live virtual Town Hall meeting on Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. CT. The Governor will discuss the statewide response to the current coronavirus outbreak and will be joined by top officials from the Department of State Health Services, the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Texas Education Agency. Due to restrictions on large gatherings, the one-hour virtual Town Hall will take place at the studios of KXAN-TV in Austin, Texas, and bring viewers in communities across the state together via live television broadcast and streaming video. Viewers will be invited to submit questions to the Governor and the other state officials via the internet using the hashtag #AskAbbott.
“As Texas continues to respond to the threat of COVID-19, it is vital that all Texans understand the size and scope of this challenge as well as what the State of Texas is doing to mitigate the spread of this virus and keep Texans safe,” said Governor Abbott. “From Day One, the state has implemented preventative strategies and built on our public health capabilities, and we continue to add to these capabilities every single day. Along with our local and federal partners, we are aggressively working to expand our COVID-19 testing capabilities, protect the most vulnerable populations, and ensure that health care professionals and all Texans have access to the supplies and resources they need. We are all in this together and this Televised Town Hall is an opportunity to provide an update on the status of Texas’ response.
The television broadcast will be hosted by KXAN-TV anchor Robert Hadlock and will air exclusively on 14 Nexstar stations across the state, including KIAH-TV (CW), KDAF-TV (CW), KXAN-TV (NBC), KRBC-TV (NBC), KAMR-TV (NBC), KVEO-TV (NBC), KTSM-TV (NBC), KLBK-TV (CBS), KMID-TV (ABC), KSAN-TV (NBC), KTAL-TV (NBC), KETK-TV (NBC), KWKT-TV (FOX) and KFDX-TV (NBC). Local viewers may also access a live-stream of the Town Hall online by visiting their local Nexstar station’s website (see table below for list of participating stations and station website links).
Joining the Governor for the virtual Town Hall will be: Dr. John Hellerstedt, Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner; Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, Imelda Garcia, Associate Commissioner of Laboratory and Infectious Disease Services at the Texas Department of State Health Services; and Mike Morath, Texas Education Agency Commissioner. The Town Hall will open with Governor Abbott providing the latest information the state’s response to the coronavirus crisis followed by a fifteen-minute question and answer session between Governor Abbott, the other state officials, and Mr. Hadlock. The broadcast will then allow approximately forty-five minutes of questions submitted by viewers around the state. Viewers can pose a question to the Governor or any of the show’s guests via a variety of social media platforms using the hashtag #AskAbbott. Preference will be given to those questions submitted as videos rather than texts.
Governor Greg Abbott Virtual Town Hall Television Broadcast and Live-Stream: Thursday, March 19, 2020 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. CT KXAN-TV studios
Host: Robert Hadlock, KXAN-TV
Guests: - Governor Greg Abbott
- John Hellerstedt, Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner
- Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management
- Imelda Garcia, Associate Commissioner of Laboratory and Infectious Disease Services at the Texas Department of State Health Services
- Mike Morath, Texas Education Agency Commissioner
Town Hall will be carried on the following stations and websites:
KRBC-TV NBC Abilene
KAMR-TV NBC Amarillo
KXAN-TV NBC Austin
KVEO-TV NBC Brownsville
KTSM-TV NBC El Paso
KLBK-TV CBS Lubbock
KMID-TV ABC Midland/Odessa
KSAN-TV NBC San Angelo
KTAL-TV NBC Shreveport
KETK-TV NBC Tyler
KWKT-TV Fox Waco
KFDX-TV NBC Wichita Falls
KIAH-TV CW Houston
KDAF-TV CW Dallas
Note: In addition to the live television broadcast, viewers may also access a live-stream of the Town Hall online by visiting their local participating Nexstar station’s website. | | Keep In Touch It is important for me as your State Representative to hear from you on the issues that matter. I hope you find this contact information useful. | |  | Capitol Office
(512) 463-0734
1100 Congress Avenue Suite GN.10 Austin, TX 78701
Post Office Box 2910 AUstin, TX 78768 | | | | District Office
(281) 488-8900
17225 El Camino Real Suite 415 Houston, TX 77058 | | | | | | | | |
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