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Urgent Updates
What’s the latest from the governor on the virus in Texas?
Governor Abbott met with local officials yesterday (August 13)
in Lubbock and El Paso to discuss regional COVID-19 updates.
According to KXAN News (Austin’s NBC affiliate), when asked in Lubbock
about the state’s climbing positivity rate:
“Abbott said the Texas Department of State Health Services has
brought on investigators to look into possible reasons for growth in that
category. He said the state has so far found a few possible key points. He
said fewer people had been tested in the past few weeks, compared to previous
months, adding that surge testing plus more interest led to more tests being
conducted.”
With Labor Day weekend and flu season approaching, Abbott said
health leaders worry about hospital systems being overrun with patients:
“‘It’s so important for people to not let their guard down during
the Labor Day holiday, like they did during Memorial Day,’ Abbott said. ‘If
Texans and people in Lubbock refuse to let their guard down, especially on
holidays, they will be able to contain the spread of COVID-19, they will be
able to prevent hospitals from becoming overrun with patients.’”
In El Paso, the governor highlighted the concept of
“COVID-fatigue” again. “’The COVID disease doesn’t care about COVID
fatigue,’ he stated, mentioning that the virus does not discriminate in the
people it might manifest itself in.”
Further Updates
What’s the latest on the implementation of the president’s
unemployment benefits plan?
While cities have no formal role in the administration of
unemployment benefits, we continue to receive questions about the
process. Interested city officials should know that yesterday (August
13), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released this fact sheet detailing how states can access the grant
funding to supplement unemployment payments.
Where can I find archived issues of the TML Coronavirus
Updates?
TML Coronavirus Updates are archived by date here and by subject here.
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