Schools will remain closed until at least May 4, ordered Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who tightened statewide restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Abbott made his announcement at a media conference in Austin on March 31. The order goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. April 1 and lasts until April 30, also the new end date for national restrictions ordered by the president on March 30.
The order amends the rule of 10, cutting it back to minimizing contact to “people who are not in the same household.” By using the word minimize, the order does not explicitly ban nonessential activity.
He did not, however, call for a statewide stay-at-home order, stating that the phrase gives the wrong impression since people are free to go to the grocery stores or jobs deemed essential.
“If you’re not engage in an essential service or activity, then you need to be at home for the purpose of slowing the spread of COVID-19,” Abbott said. He also noted that any state executive overrides conflicting orders issued by local officials.
“We have come too far to falter now,” Abbott said. “We have made tremendous strides, but we have not yet reached our destination.”