Gov. Abbott Extends Social Distancing Through April; Texas Schools Closed Until May 4
April 1, 2020 - San Antonio
Wish you were here. On Tuesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that social distancing measures will be extended through April 30, and that schools will remain closed until May 4. Photo: Jade Esteban Estrada.
By Jade Esteban Estrada - Staff Writer, San Antonio Sentinel
In an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19, Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday announced that social distancing measures will be extended through the end of April, and that public schools will remain closed until May 4. This new order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, April 2.
During a half-hour briefing at the Texas Capitol, where he explained select modifications to his March 19 executive order, Abbott was joined by key figures in his administration, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, first-term Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen and Mike Morath, commissioner of the Texas Education Agency.
“For the parents listening at home: We will get through this,” Morath said solemnly. “We will get through this together. For a little bit more time, we all must remain apart, so we can come back together.”
Abbott’s previous emergency declaration was due to expire Friday at midnight.
Since the initial school closings, educators, parents and teachers across the state have been in the midst of an unprecedented crash course in distance learning. Morath, who has two children of his own, said that educators are arduously working to master this new educational norm with love and diligence.
“[Our educators] are doing everything in their power to support parents all over the State of Texas and we will continue to do so for the duration of this executive order and beyond,” he said.
Two months before Texas schools closed in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, students at Roosevelt High School celebrate a performance of the Broadway musical classic, She Loves Me. “For a little bit more time, we all must remain apart so we can come back together,” said Mike Morath, commissioner of the Texas Education Agency. Photo: Jade Esteban Estrada.
Unless citizens are engaged in essential services or activities, Abbott is ordering Texans in 254 counties to stay home. Unlike the federal guidelines of what constitutes an essential boon, religious services are indeed on Texas’ list of permitted services, which overrides any conflicting church-gathering protocols issued by local officials.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, there are now 3,266 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 41 deaths in the Lone Star State.
Bonnen began his opening remarks with a quote from Winston Churchill, England’s prime minister during World War II. “‘It is not enough that we do our best,” he said as he read from his phone. “Sometimes we have to do what is requested.’”
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“Our system of public education in Texas serves five and a half million souls; little bundles of energy trying to become the best versions of themselves,” Morath said. “Like many parents in Texas - I’m a parent of two young children - we are wrestling with a new reality.”
The modifications to Abbott’s executive order came two days after President Donald J. Trump extended social distancing measures through the end of April. “Together, we will persevere through this for another month,” Abbott said.
Jade Esteban Estrada is a staff writer at the San Antonio Sentinel, where he covers public health and other citywide issues. He can be reached at jade@sasentinel.com.