I want to let you know where we stand in regards to the state response to the coronavirus. I am very proud that the state response is being led by the Texas State Health services commissioner, dr. John. He and his team worked closely with the Texas Division of Emergency Management to coordinate the response to covid19. Going back, from the very beginning, i began working on first this in midjanuary. I talked to Vice President pence, and the day after that, i talked to President Trump about the very first person who contracted covid19 in the u. S. A couple days later, january 24, the department of state Health Services began leading daily calls with Public Health authorities, health care providers, city and county officials and School Districts across the state of texas. The next week on january 31, the department of state Health Services activated the state medical operations center. That was followed by the dh the dsh s opening 10 Public Health labs to perform covid19 testing throughout the state of texas. We are proud to say that the state of texas is filled with outstanding leaders at the local level. Leaders who have done a remarkable job of safeguarding their communities and responding to the early stages of the coronavirus. We are also fortunate to have some of the premier local Health Officials in america who are advising their local officials. Positive texan tested for covid19, who was not one of the people who was repatriated from the cruise ships, tested positive on march 4. A week later, i received the first request for a disaster declaration from a local official. The next day, i declared a state disaster in response to the coronavirus. Later that day, last friday, the president declared a National Emergency concerning the coronavirus. That same day, the cdc issued heightened standards for Public Health. To show you how swiftly moving this entire process is, when i what i just told you happened last friday. The following monday being the monday of this week. Things began to change even more rapidly. The cdc further heightened Public Health standards. Beginning this past monday it included limiting gatherings of people in a more than 10 people, more than 10 no people, putting restrictions on entities like restaurants, bars, gyms, etc. It is important to know that since i made my disaster declaration last friday, the fact in the state of texas have also changed. When i declared a disaster last friday, there were 39 cases of texans who tested positive for covid19. Today that number has grown by more than 300 . 140y we have more than people in the state of texas who have tested positive for covid19. When i declared a disaster last friday, there were deaths in the zero state of texas. As of today, there are three deaths. When i declared the disaster six days ago, there were 10 counties in the state of texas where covid19 had been identified. As we gather today, there are at least 27 counties where covid19 has been identified. Provenistorically has a model in the way that we respond to Natural Disasters. A lot of people do not know but texas leads the nation in Natural Disaster declarations and through the numerous disasters we worked our way through, we have a very effective system where the governor will make a disaster declaration and local officials with groove and experience are able to respond, knowing their community is better than anybody else. In doing so, what happens is the governor empowers the local officials to take the action swiftly in order to help their communities. This works well when we are dealing with regional disasters where local officials know more about what is going on on the ground. It helped us respond more swiftly and effectively to enormous Natural Disasters like hurricane harvey. What we are dealing with in texas is not a local disaster or a regional disaster. It is far more than a nationwide disaster. In fact, it is an international pandemic. The traditional model we have employed in the state of texas for such a long time so effectively, does not apply to an invisible disease that knows no geographic or jurisdictional boundaries. It threatens the lives of our fellow americans across the entire country. The appropriate response to the threat has been well articulated by dr. Fauci and dr. Birx. These doctors are leaving the response for the United States of america. They have been emphatic that we as a country must swiftly elevate our response to covid19. They say it is essential that all americans comply with the cdc articulated standards. All jurisdictions must work to contain the spread of covid19 for at least the next two weeks. That standard is echoed by dr. Heller stat, the doctor in charge of the response for the state of texas. He insists that texas needs a unified, robust response to contain covid19 and to attain doctor earlier today declared a Public Health disaster in the state of texas. Here is his declaration. My recollection is the last time this was declared in the state texas was 1901. This Public Health disaster declaration gives state and local officials important tools to ensure that we will be able to most effectively respond to this challenge. To achieve the goals established by the president by the cdc, to fulfill the Public Health disaster issued by the doctor and to ensure that we maximize safety and health for all texans, i am issuing an executive order, authorized by chapter 418. This executive order adopts the standards that have been set out by the president and by the cdc. It provides the following. Number one, every person in texas shall avoid social gatherings and groups of more than 10. Number two, people shall avoid eating or drinking at bars or restaurants and food courts were or visiting gyms. Simply put, there will be no dining in at bars and ms will bes and gy closed. Provided that the use of drivethrough, pick up or delivery options is allowed, and in fact highly encouraged through the limited duration of this executive order. We want to emphasize that one thing important for all texans to be able to access right now obviously is food. If any texans are having challenges getting food at grocery stores, always remember the availability of getting access where your for your food at restaurants along different types of processes. Number three, people shall not visit Nursing Homes or Retirement Centers or longterm care facilities unless to provide critical assistance. Number four, all schools in the state of texas shall be temporarily closed. This does not mean education stops. Superintendents should continue to work with the Texas Education Agency to continue online or additional education options. This order is effective midnight tomorrow and it continues through midnight on april the third. It might be extended after that depending on the status of covid19 in texas. As well as the recommendations of the cdc. Very important for people to understand what i am about to say. This executive order is not a shelterinplace order. It does not prohibit people from doing things like going to the grocery store, parks or banks. All Critical Infrastructure will remain open and operational. Domestic travel will be unrestricted. Government entities and businesses will continue to provide essential services. Offices and workplaces remain open, but they should only ask for essential employees to report to work and where feasible, allow employees to work from home or other remote sites. Employees who go to work should also practice both good hygiene, as well as best practices in order to minimize exposure to covid19. Ission of the more that people do to reduce their public contact, the sooner the covid19 disease will be contained and the sooner this executive order will expire. Working together, we must defeat covid19 with the only tools that we have available to us. We must strangle its expansion by reducing the ways that we are currently transmitting it. The executive order applies cdc standards to achieve that goal. We are doing this today so that we can get back to business as usual more quickly. Lastly, texans have always united in times of challenge. We saw this very prolifically in the way that texans responded to hurricane harvey. There were people around the city of houston whose homes had been flooded. Hundreds of thousands of people had their homes flooded at a time when streets had turned into rivers. The way texans was responded, they got out their base bass boats in order to rescue and help others. Business as usual had been completely disrupted, but that did not stop or deter our fellow texans in the way that they stepped up and responded. No one responds to challenges better than texans, so lets muster our traditional spirit and together defeat covid19. I would like to have the doctor speak. Thank you. The executive order as well as the declaration of Public Health disaster contains many details about the kind of steps we are asking people to take. I want to speak on why it is necessary. It is necessary because we can clearly see the trajectory that covid19 will follow, if not effectively combated. There is now sound evidence that communitybased spread has begun in texas. Covid19 is the greatest Public Health challenge in living memory. We are seeing a true, original meaning of the term viral being lived out around the world. Be livedis and will out in texas and it is moving quickly. We must change the course of covid19 before it impacts our we must change the course of covid19 before it impacts our state with maximum effect. As texans, it is our duty to undertake the measures specified in the Public Health disaster declaration. We must all endure the sacrifices that we know are necessary and effective to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities. The time to act is now. If we delay, we will not only pay a higher price than is necessary, but we will rue the day that all of texas did not choose to act decisively. Keeping your neighbor and your coworker safe keeps us all safe. We are fighting back. We will win, and texas will show the world how it is done. Gov. Abbott thank you. In texas, we have a chief in charge of Emergency Management. Chief . Thank you, governor. I ask all of us to be prepared and not panic. While this virus is novel, or new, it is not any different than the disasters we have responded to. It will be the same people, policies, and procedures on the front lines, and i need all the citizens to listen to local officials and listen to the orders that are given. Together, we will get through this. The chain is strong and we will need to be very cautious to not induce panic buying. We urge you to follow directions as best as you can. Gov. Abbott thank you. This time, i would like the Lieutenant Governor to make some remarks. Thank you, governor. We are in touch with all of our senators and business people. And citizens all over the state are on a regular basis working with the governor on these proposals. I am always asking the question, when his is going to wind . To end . The sooner all texans come together, the sooner we all collectively do that and follow these orders and make those sacrifices, the sooner we get to the other side. The sooner all businesses can reopen. The sooner normalcy returns. It really is up to 29 million texans to really step up and be the frontline in this fight. I am asking all of you to join us and follow the lead of the governor and our state leaders. State health leaders. Gov. Abbott thank you. Now the speaker of the texas house. Thank you, governor. We are here today to show complete support and unity in the state of texas. We ask today, when can we go back to normalcy . In a time when we think we might not have as much control as we normally do, we have more control. The control is with following these guidelines. Following the leadership that the governor has displayed throughout this situation. The reality of it is, we are together. If texans stick together and follow the guidelines, respecting the executive order of the governor, we will reach normal life sooner rather than later if we come together and treat each other with respect. And follow the guidelines. Thank you. Gov. Abbott we will take a few questions. Reporter what does it mean for the average person . What can you do . Gov. Abbott this establishes standards by which all texans are required to operate their daily lives by. In other words, this is the expectation that people will not gather in groups of more than 10. As it concerns the enforcement ability, one reason for the announcement of the Public Health disaster declaration by the doctor, the state now has quarantine authority. We want to depend upon the responsibility that all texans will show. If texans are irresponsible and the behavior, though, there are more tools where we could be more aggressive only if needed. The freelancers right now that do not have an employer paying. What can the state due to help them right now . As it regards to individuals who are at nontraditional jobs, they do not have an employer. The most prolific thing the state of texas can do to make sure all Unemployed People will be getting back to work as soon as possible is to lead the way to bend the curve. We have to get back to business as usual as quickly as possible and we can only do that with everybody joining with eyes to to reducewith us the transmission of covid 19. Reporter [indiscernible] 100 yes. We have accelerated by executive order, we have accelerated the unemployment process so that people are able to get benefits faster. Also, there are many different packages that have been and are currently being worked on. Worked on by the United States congress. Some have passed, some are still in the work, that will provide benefits to people across the country, including here in texas. Reporter [indiscernible] gov. Abbott i have dealt with so many disasters as governor in so many regions. Texas leads the country in National Disaster declarations, working with tremendous experience and response, we have seen the profound and effective way that local leaders had have expertise in responding to Natural Disasters. And we begin working, this is very important, we as 18 began as a team began working with these local officials back in january, so this is not anything that began yesterday. We began having leadership meetings, it could be with county judges, with mayors. Doctor began daily local phone calls with officials dating back to january, so we as a state do exactly everything that is taking place at the local level, up all the way through this minute. And like i said earlier in my remarks, local officials have done a fabulous job of leading their communities. Its just that with the rapid spread of this, but with the new but also with the new mandates from washington dc, not only about what best practices are, but what expected practices are, i find it necessary to make sure that we as a state, in unison, are doing exactly what has been prescribed by the federal government. Reporter in regards to the numbers we are seeing, we knew they were going to be low. You warned that they would be going up. They are going up. Are gettinging we close to that peak . What do you tell people at home to keep them from panicking when they see these numbers going up . As we are getting more people tested. What is your feeling towards that . How close are we to that peak, to that point . Gov. Abbott the best answer to that is the way to have the best possible outcome is for all of us to do the things that we have been talking about all along. So the hygiene practices, social distancing practices, the cleaning surfaces, all those things. Those are the measures that protect us as individuals and our loved ones, coworkers and our entire community. That is what protects us from the spread of this. If we want to see the spread slow down and reversed at some point, then we need to carry out those practices. When it occurs is completely a function of how effective we are as texans. In acting together to do the things that we are asking them to do. Reporter the interpretation of the numbers you are seeing right now . The interpretation of the numbers we are seeing right now is that this is exactly the time to on a statewide level, ask people to say here is the standard, the Public Health standards that we need to prevent further spread to bend that curve. Gov. Abbott if i could add to that. The amount of tests in the state of texas, there would be multiple entities that would be doing testing now. There are a multitude of private entities doing testing on hospitals. There are a multitude of private entities that are going to be doing testing, hospitals that are going to be doing testing. All of this will be aggregated together. The amount of testing being done will be in the range of at least 15,000 to 20,000 per week with the expectation that it will continue to increase. Here is the way it is going to look, because more people are going to be tested. Because there are more people who will be transmitting it to others. It means that the public should expect a spike to occur. A rise to occur. And the number of people who test positive, it will take a little while to see the thrust of that occur. Then our collective goal is a state is to make sure that that spike level off. Once the spike begins to level off, we will then know that we will have a challenge contained. Reporter [indiscernible] gov. Abbott i had the opportunity to visit with the ceos and hospitals of the state of texas to get information from them about what strategies would be best in order to expand the capability of health care to respond by providing additional beds as well as resources to the public. There might be increased demand based on an increased number of people testing positive for covid19. In response, they gave me a list of ideas that would be good. Were on there, but it was not the first choice. There were other choices that are easier and better responses. That we are also working on. One is medical tents. We have identified multiple facilities to have access. Facilities that already have access to medical tents. They are selfcontained units that can provide care. We have identified other availability of health tents to make sure that we can provide more. Second, there are several hospitals and medical facilities, it could be emergency centers, that recently ended operation. The facility is in a perfect position to take care of patients who would test positive for covid19. That was their second choice. Then after that, for patients who test positive for covid19 but are not in need of critical care, which is the overwhelming majority of people who contract covid19, a hotel room is a perfectly acceptable place to for people to selfisolate. It can have one individual per room with a bathroom. And we have identified hotels in various locations across texas and we continue to get calls from owners of hotels who are offering up their supply. This is something i think we will see a very large supply that will meet the needs that we have in the state of texas. Of awkward. Be kind i will let you speak on it, if you want. We had a lot of people reach out already. We are collecting lists, but we want to make sure we are in the right place to do that. We are not ready to release those lists yet. We want to inspect them and make sure they are available. We dont want them to be ready to some, we certainly do not want them to be ready too late. Reporter [indiscernible] i cant hear you. Anyplace where anybody would gather, by this executive order, they are prohibited from having more than 10 people gather at any one time or location. Reporter [indiscernible] gov. Abbott in the meeting i had with ceos in the state of texas, we discussed hospital inventory. We got some information they shared about availability at the particular time and we will be getting Additional Information from them. I can tell you this based on the input from hospital leaders, i feel very comfortable with where we are. With the availability of facilities, if we get to the worst is an area the worstcase scenario. Reporter [indiscernible] is that wise . Gov. Abbott everyone loves the first dog, as you point out, but you make an insightful point. It is important that people understand that because of the potential transmission of covid19, we will be producing we will be reducing the amount of time in situations for and situations in which i will travel. Considering the magnitude of what happened in arlington, i thought it was important for me to be there. There will be situations where it is better for me to be present, if possible, but if at all possible, i will be refraining from travel. Sir howe doing, are you doing, sir . Gov. Abbott very healthy, no symptoms. Reporter [indiscernible] gov. Abbott i will tell you, as the victim of an emergency tragedy myself, i have if you would experienced the internal task of responding to unique, emergent challenges. And this is a situation i feel comfortable dealing with. Reporter [indiscernible] announcer it is easy to follow the federal response to the coronavirus outbreak at cspan. Org coronavirus. Track the spread throughout the u. S. And the world with interactive maps and charts. 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