Gov Abbott: Texas Shutdown Not Coming

AUSTIN, TX – Although the number of new coronavirus cases in Texas continues to rise and hospitals grow more crowded, Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday afternoon there is no statewide shutdown expected.

In a statement last week Abbott said that if the spread of the virus didn't slow, "the next step would have to be a lockdown,"  however in a television interview on Thursday, he said that there have been multiple rumors of such a move and stressed that they were in fact not true.

Abbott added, “Let me tell you, there is no shutdown coming."

Abbott went on to point out the measures he’s taken in recent weeks, including his statewide mask mandate and the order shutting down bars to slow the spread of the virus, although "it will take a few weeks to see a reversal in coronavirus case surges," he said.

Abbott has repeatedly stressed this week that if people wear masks, he'll be able to avoid possibly shutting down the state once again.

On Wednesday, Abbott told KPRC-TV in Houston that people ask him about another state shutdown "like a thousand times a day."

"People are panicking, thinking I'm about to shut down Texas again," he said before adding, "The answer is no. That is not the goal, and I've been abundantly clear."

As of Thursday July 16, there were approximately 10,457 people in Texas hospitalized with the coronavirus.

Although Thursday's number was down slightly from the state's peak of 10,569 cases on Tuesday, it's still an 8% increase from a week ago and approximately more than four times higher than the number from a month ago.

Abbott described the state seeing a "flattening" of hospitalizations even though the state has reported roughly 3,561 deaths from the virus.

“We are certainly not out of the woods yet, but this could be a glimmer of hope,” Abbott said while mentioning the recent hospitalization numbers, “But the only way we can avoid a shutdown is if we do get everybody buying into this process of wearing a face mask.”

Previously on Thursday, Abbott defended his coronavirus response at the Texas GOP convention after acknowledging a widespread of disagreement among party members as several Republican officials voiced their criticism of Abbott’s statewide mask order.

"The last thing that any of us want is to lock Texas back down again," he said during the parties virtual convention.

In an email Abhi Rahman, a Democrat state party spokesperson said, "Governor Abbott should start listening to public health officials and members of his own coronavirus taskforce before he makes blanket claims."

 Rahman also added, "After experiencing record deaths today and over 10,000 new cases, it's shocking that Abbott continues to double down on his failed policies and positions."