Back to business
Abbott’s plan to reopen Texas is only as good as the testing data and our own behavior.
With the appropriate cautions and caveats, Gov. Greg Abbott announced plans Monday to restart the coronavirus-stricken Texas economy by allowing retail stores, restaurants, malls, movie theaters, museums and libraries to reopen Friday at 25 percent occupancy.
The governor said he would let his statewide stay-at-home order expire as scheduled Thursday, clearing the way for Phase I of the economic reboot that would, if new coronavirus cases and COVID-19 deaths subside, result in more businesses opening by the middle of May.
The fact that some people view the plan as too cautious while others fear it is too much, too soon suggests that Abbott is striking the right balance in steering the state through a nearly unprecedented health crisis that has also spawned record unemployment and crushing economic hardship.
The governor is also right in understanding that health and safety must remain the priority. Reopening businesses isn’t going to be of much help if customers don’t feel secure enough to return to the public marketplace.
And while the governor’s order unfortunately supersedes some stricter local mandates, such as Harris County’s requirement to wear a mask in public or potentially face fines, Abbott stressed several times during his Monday news conference that reopened businesses and events would have to take steps to avoid close contact between customers and workers.
“Now more than ever, Texans must remain committed to safe distancing practices that reduce the spread of COVID-19, and we must continue to rely on doctors and data to provide us with the safest strategies to restore Texans’ livelihoods,” he said. “We must also focus on protecting the most vulnerable Texans from exposure to COVID-19. If we remain focused on protecting the lives of our fellow Texans, we can continue to open the Lone Star State.”
Amen. That means we all have a part to play, behaving responsibly in public with face coverings, keeping our distance and limiting unnecessary travel and personal interaction. It means businesses must take the outlined steps to protect customers and workers, and local health inspectors need to be vigilant. Of course, there aren’t enough enforcers to catch every violator. That’s why consumers should “vote with their feet” when they don’t feel safe and let business operators know when they aren’t doing enough.
Abbott said he would continue to depend on data and the best medical advice in deciding when and how to move to Phase II, which could include increased occupancy at restaurants as well as reopening bars, barbershops, gyms, and nail and hair salons. Although he has targeted May 18 for this second stage, the governor said it could be delayed or altered based on how well Texas is battling the virus and the ability of health care facilities to handle any surge.
“We’re not just going to open up and hope for the best,” he said.
That is a wise approach. It allows for gradual implementation that can be dialed up or down depending on realworld and real-time results.
As for controlling the coronavirus, the heart of the plan involves a change from “flattening the curve” to “boxing in” the virus, according to the governor’s strike force report. That means:
• Testing (widespread and regular).
• Isolating infected people.
• Finding those who have come in contact with an infected person (contact tracing).
• Quarantining exposed contacts for 14 days.
The key to the strategy is testing, which raises some troubling questions.
Can Texas, which has been at or near the bottom in state per capita testing since the pandemic began, ramp up enough to provide meaningful data?
The governor’s goal of 30,000 tests per day, twice the current 15,000 average, is at least a good start in catching up. But must get testing right for this plan to succeed.
Do we have the resources for contact tracing?
Abbott said the state has more than 1,100 contact tracers working now and plans to bring on nearly 3,000 more by May 11. California, meanwhile, is shooting to have 10,000 contract tracers on the ground this year.
How much is enough for Texas? The answer will determine how far the state’s grand reopening goes and how long it lasts.
The state needs to push forward on its testing and the rest of us need to keep practicing social distancing. Even great plans require good execution.