Gov. Abbott announces temporary statewide school, restaurant, gym closures

[LiberalArkie]

AUSTIN -- Gov. Greg Abbott is temporarily closing schools, restaurants, gyms and bars statewide in his most sweeping step yet to stop the spread of novel coronavirus. The order is effective at midnight tomorrow and continues until April 3, he said Thursday.

“All jurisdictions must work to contain the spread of COVID-19 for at least the next two weeks,” he said.

The executive order by Abbott limits social gatherings to fewer than 10 people and restricts people from visiting nursing homes and retirement centers unless they are providing “critical assistance,” he said. While dining-in at restaurants or bars will not be allowed under the order, Abbott encouraged Texans to continue ordering food from local eateries for pick up or delivery.

All schools in the state will be temporarily closed, though Abbott said superintendents should work with the state to continue “online or additional education options.”

“What we are dealing with now in Texas is not a local disaster, or a regional disaster, it’s far more than a nationwide disaster,” Abbott said from the Capitol building in Austin.


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https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/03/19/abbott-announces-temporary-statewide-school-restaurant-gym-closures/

[nature-lover]

1. About time. Maybe Rachel calling him out helped.

[yellowdogintexas]

2. I read yesterday that our local elections scheduled for May 2

have been rescheduled to the Nov 3 ballot. Other counties have done this and it hasn't hurt a thing. I have always wondered why we have to have these dinky elections at weird times instead of expected times when all other normal elections are held.

I hope this is true.

[Javaman]

3. as always abbott is a fucking moron...

the dead line is midnight tonight.

I can just see 6th street tonight filled with drunk college morons tying one last one on before the ban.

if there ever was a better time for the virus to spread, in Austin, it will be tonight.

he could have done the right thing and imposed it last night, but no.

he's a fucking idiot.