Governor Greg Abbott has issued three new Executive Orders to begin the process of reopening the state of Texas while revising hospital capacity and certain social distancing guidelines. Within the orders, select activities and services that pose minimal to no threat of spreading COVID-19 are allowed to reopen using a "Retail-To-Go" model, certain restrictions on surgeries have been loosened, and schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year.
Abbott said health experts say it would be too risky to return students to the classroom this early. As a result, the classrooms will remain closed to students who are to take part in virtual learning for the rest of the academic year. The buildings can be open to teachers to either conduct online classes or to clean out their classrooms.
During a news conference at the Texas Capitol, Abbott said Texans' efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus were paying off.
"We're now beginning to see glimmers that the worst of COVID-19 may soon be behind us," Abbott said. "We have demonstrated that we can corral the coronavirus."