Texas parks set to reopen; complications are present

EL PASO, Texas — As Texas took its first steps Sunday toward reopening — starting with state parks — caveats in the plan popped up in the massive state's far western corner, where the spread of coronavirus is showing no signs of slowing.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department opened online reservations for day passes, tours and camping and a message that parks that can reopen Monday will, per Gov. Greg Abbott's orders. But in El Paso, at least, Mayor Dee Margo said two popular sites — Franklin Mountains and Hueco Tanks state parks — will remain closed.

“The reopening of El Paso is contingent on the rate of infection and residents complying with the current Stay Home Order,” Margo said in a statement. "Until we see a consistent decrease in our positive cases, we will not be ready to lift restrictions.”

El Paso's exceptions hint that future openings of government services and businesses will be complicated, fraught with stipulations based on local conditions in Texas and beyond.

At least 18,923 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, an increase from about 18,200 cases the day before. The number of people who have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, is now at least 477.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

Future decisions on reopening more of Texas would be guided by testing, Abbott said, and although he assured that testing would “go up quite a bit” in late April or early May, he did not provide a number.

Texas ranks last in the U.S. in coronavirus testing per capita, according to an analysis by The Associated Press of data collected by The COVID Tracking Project.

Margo has appeared visibly frustrated in news conferences in recent weeks after reports of residents flouting social distancing guidelines have streamed in, with over 300 reports of social gatherings and unauthorized businesses open over Easter Weekend in the city of about 700,000 residents.