Texas Businesses Paused for Reopening Due to Surge in Coronavirus Cases

WHAT’S BEING CLAIMED:

• Texas recorded 5,500 new cases prompting Governor Abbott to pause resumption of businesses.
• The Governor says the pause is to allow time to corral the spread of the disease before reopening businesses.
• Abbott also ordered hospitals to suspend elective emergencies as a “precautionary step” to guarantee an “ample supply of available beds to treat COVID-19 patients.

Amid the surge in coronavirus cases in Texas, Governor Gregg Abbott pauses resumption of businesses. Four of its biggest cities, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Austin, are part of the counties ordered to stop reopening.

In May, Texas was one of the states to aggressively reopen after the coronavirus lockdown though its restaurants, gyms, retail stores operated at reduced capacities.  This week, Texas recorded 5,500 new coronavirus cases. This is triple the recorded cases after Memorial Day weekend.

The governor’s executive order also directs hospitals in the state’s four hard-hit counties to suspend elective emergencies as a “precautionary step” to guarantee an “ample supply of available beds to treat COVID-19 patients.

Abbot in a prepared statement said that “The last thing we want to do as a state is go backwards and close down businesses. This temporary pause will help our state corral the spread until we can safely enter the next phase of opening our state for business.”

The order is in effect even if its consequences on other businesses is still unclear.

Governor Cuomo of New York imposed a self-quarantine order upon arrival for travelers from the Lone Star State to prevent a second wave of coronavirus cases in the Empire State.

Connecticut and New Jersey have also issued similar orders.

Source: New York Post