AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced a number of executive orders Friday that aim to get the state's economy back on track.
Abbott spoke from the State Capitol early Friday afternoon.
In his first order, Abbott laid out a statewide strike force to determine the best steps for re-opening the state's economy. Lt. Gov Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Comptroller Glenn Hegar will lead the effort, joined by a team of medical advisors and an advisory committee of Texas business and community leaders.
"They will work together to develop a medical architecture to comprehensively test and trace COVID-19 that will enable Texas to gradually and safely begin the process of returning to work and returning to other activities while we wait for the immunizations that will end the threat of COVID-19," Abbott said.
In another executive order, Abbott said the state will ease restrictions on medical procedures beginning April 22. The order aims to allow doctors to more easily diagnose patients, while continuing to protect Texas' most vulnerable populations.
A third executive order touches on Texas' retail sector - one Abbott describes as critically important to the state. "Retailers are such an important part of our economy," said Abbott. "They provide you with products you need and want, and create so many jobs." Retailers that can operate in a "retail to go" manner will be able to do so beginning on April 24.
"This temporary plan allows you to access more retailers while also minimizing contact with others," Abbott said.
More information on the standards and guidelines that retailers must follow is available on the DSHS website.
Touching on mental and physical health, Abbott said state parks will re-open on Monday, April 20. Visitors must maintain social distancing with anyone not in their household, not be in groups of more than five people, and wear face coverings.
Abbott also touched on the state's schools, saying it would be unsafe for students to gather at schools for the foreseeable future. That means the state's schools - public, private, and higher education - will remain closed for the rest of the 2019-20 school year. Teachers will be able to return to hold virtual classes online, perform administrative duties, or clean out their classrooms for the summer.
Abbott also teased additional steps coming on April 27 to balance re-opening the state's economy while preventing a resurgence of COVID-19. "In these next 10 days we will prepare a phased-in strategy to open Texas in a safe way," Abbott said.
