WILLIAMSON COUNTY (1080 KRLD)- There's a call to expand testing to some of the states more vulnerable Texans.
State Representative James Talarico from Williamson County wrote Governor Abbott a letter, asking him to test every resident and staffer in Texas nursing homes, state run homes for people with disabilities and state run psychiatric hospitals.
Abbott recently mandated testing only in nursing homes. Talarico says that's not enough. "The state is one of the few that's not reporting how many of these cases and deaths are occurring in these types of facilities. Without accurate and current data we cannot respond effectively to the virus."He says aside from blanket testing, "we need to ensure that we have necessary hazard pay and personal protective equipment. And we've got to make sure we've got transparent reporting so we have accurate and current data on where the virus is spreading and where outbreaks are occurring across the state."Talarico is a Democrat, but says his letter was signed on by 63 legislators from both parties. "This is a major vulnerable population and we have a moral obligation as policy makers to protect these vulnerable Texans."There are 4,703 Texans living in these state supported centers and 18-873 staffers
