Gov. Abbott Declares State Of Disaster For All Texas Counties
Staff Reports
On Friday, Governor Greg Abbott has declared a state disaster for all Texas counties.
The state of disaster announcement was signed during a press conference he and officials held to provide an update on the state’s efforts of handling COVID-19.
Abbott said the state of disaster authorized the use of all available and necessary state and government resources to help respond to the coronavirus outbreak.
According to Abbott, there are at least 39 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Texas; those cases do not include the ones from Joint Base in San Antonio-Lackland.
A drive-through COVID-19 testing facility has opened in San Antonio as of this afternoon.
Abbott said it will be used initially for high-level patients as well as first responders, health care workers and operators of critical infrastructure and key resources.
The state intends to open similar facilities in Dallas and Austin soon.
Last week, officials announced 10 public health labs in Texas were equipped of testing for COVID-19. The Department of State Health Services has launched a website to share up to date information. dshs.tx.gov/coronavirus/
The state has asked health care providers and HMOs to wave costs associated with the testing and telemedicine visit concerning Coronavirus.
“If an uninsured person needs testing for Coronavirus, there are two options,” Abbott said. “One is public health testing or private laboratory testing. For public health testing, it requires consultation with local health departments. If the person meets public health criteria, then the person is eligible for testing through public health testing with no cost to the person.”
Abbott said private laboratory testing can also occur but there may be a cost to the individual; people can call 211 to find local low or no-cost providers in their area.
According to Abbott, state education and health officials are working daily with school districts to prepare the appropriate response.
“Texas is seeking waivers for federal regulations for the school lunch program to give districts to provide students with food should the districts need to shut down for a given period to respond to the coronavirus,” Abbott said.
Abbott said at this time, not counting those at Lackland Air Force Base, there are 39 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the state; 220 Texans have been tested in Texas Public Health Labs or by the Center for Disease Control.
Texas Public Health labs have the capacity to test 273 people per day currently with that inability to increase also with private labs coming online.
“Texas is in the best position to handle a situation like this,” Gov. Abbott said. “We’ve been working with grocers and retailers, and Texans must remain calm. We are prepared with the goods and supplies we need.”
The Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd and Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD, joined Abbott at the press conference.
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