Texas Governor Greg Abbott Unleashes Plans for Reopening

Courtesy of the Texas Tribune

By Eva Lynch

After President Trump announced last week that he was working with several governors to roll out plans for reopening state economies, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Wednesday his own plans for the state, which has not yet peaked in coronavirus cases.

His announcement followed a protest in front of the state Capitol building in Austin, Texas that drew about 300 people opposing Texas’ handling of the virus and business shutdowns.

Along with his announcement that Texas schools will remain closed for the duration of the academic year, Abbott announced phase one of his plan to reopen the Texan economy will begin April 23. In this phase, state parks and trails will reopen and what he’s calling “retail-to-go” measures will be implemented. “Retail-to-go” refers to reopening retail stores so that their employees can return to work, but only under severe restrictions and curbside or delivery services. 

The restrictions for these employees will be the same for all Texas residents: remain six feet apart at all times and wear mandatory face masks.

This reopening has drawn a positive reaction from most Texans, including Texas resident and CUA alumnus Tom Rasmussen.

“I think Governor Abbott has done a good job in managing the state’s business during this difficult period,” Rasmussen said. “He has implemented serious restrictions in a reasonable way. Now that Texas seems to have the outbreak under control, he is gradually re-opening the state with parks coming first, followed by some retail and a broader group of businesses at the beginning of May. Personally, I would like to see things move more quickly so that I could finally get a haircut, but I agree with his cautious approach.”

Conversely, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s comments about reopening the economy have drawn much criticism from people around the country, most notably his comment that “there are more important things than living.” Patrick said in March that he thought many grandparents would risk their lives for the sake of the country’s economy and long-term wellbeing. He recently stood by these remarks in an interview with FOX News anchor Tucker Carlson, asserting that the country “should not have been locked down.” 

Patrick mitigated and explained these comments, saying, “We cannot endure this much longer. Every month we stay closed, it’s going to take two to three months to rebuild.”

In an announcement on Wednesday, Abbott hinted that more plans to reopen Texas businesses in-person, such as restaurants and hair salons, could come as early as Friday. Abbott has been sure to pair these announcements with approval from medical advisors and a reported strategic structure in place to protect Texas residents and assure the containment of the coronavirus. “Texans love to work,” said Abbott in a FOX Business interview. “They need to continue their livelihoods. So there’s an urgency to get back to work. We will provide that pathway in a very safe way to make sure we will open as many doors to businesses as possible while also maintaining the safety of the people of the great state of Texas.”