Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a new executive order Tuesday extending school closures until at least May 4 as residents continue to stem the rise of the novel coronavirus.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Abbott also updated social distancing guidelines for Texas and extended them through April 30. However, he stopped short of issuing a statewide shelter-in-place order as some groups, including the Texas Hospital Association and Texas Nurses Association, have requested. At least 30 states have such orders in place.
Abbott said that Texans are taking social distancing seriously and that their compliance is helping the state battle the new virus. He noted that only 2.4% of hospital beds set aside COVID-19 patients are currently occupied in the state.
“Now is not the time for us to let up,” Abbott said. “Now is the time to instead redouble our efforts to make sure we get rid of the coronavirus.”
As of Tuesday, Abbott said that about 43,000 Texans have been tested for COVID-19 so far and that about 3,200 of those have been confirmed positive. Abbott also said 41 people have died from complications. He added that 122 of 254 counties have at least one case.
Abbott updated his social distancing guidelines by executive order to define essential activities that are still allowed in Texas — if people follow social distancing guidelines. That includes grocery shopping, getting gas, hunting and fishing and exercise.
Abbott said the updates follow the guidelines set forth in President Donald Trump’s latest update and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Texas Department of Emergency Management released a list of essential businesses that can remain open during the coronavirus pandemic.
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