Local expert says it's time to put a plan in place to slow spread of COVID-19. Pennsylvania AG on Texas election lawsuit: Ted Cruz is 'a sad sack' CNN; The power struggle has been at the forefront of mitigating the coronavirus outbreak from the start. RELATED: Do we need to shut down again? It seems the horse is out of the barn at this point. “I’m very frustrated by the fact that everything’s being sort of left up to the governors and the governors and the states just don’t have the epidemiological models and the horsepower to make those kinds of evidence-based decisions,” said Hotez. Houston-area officials are “getting close” to reimposing stay-at-home orders and are prepared to reopen a Covid-19 hospital established, but never used … Houston's La Lucha is reopening on Friday, nine days after shutting down upon learning of an employee's positive test result, the restaurant announced on its website. Roughly 40,000 Regal employees in the U.S. now face a work furlough. Houston, you have some failing schools, ... And the war between the blue cities and the red state comes up again. Abbott Issues Mandatory Statewide Mask Order as Positive COID-19 Cases Continue to Spike, Virus Fighting Words From Turner and Hidalgo: it's Time to Just Stay Home. "The answer is no. He doesn’t like that decisions are being left to governors. If you remember, if she had her way, Harris County would never have begun re-opening in the first place. “Let’s look at the numbers, look at the data, see where things are,” Turner said in remarks to the media Saturday. Greg Abbott Reiterates Texas Will Not Shut Down Again While Touting Arrival Of New Coronavirus Treatment. Support the independent voice of Houston and help keep the future of Houston Press free. "People are panicking, thinking I'm about to shut down Texas again… Businesses in Houston-area get shut down after opening too soon. Greg Abbott urged Texans to wear face coverings in public to help slow the spread of COVID-19. But Closing Down Again Is a ‘Last Option.’ ... and we’re going to get involved. On Wednesday, he told KPRC-TV in Houston that it seems like people ask him about a shutdown "like a thousand times a day." Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Show More Show Less 5 of 68 Heavy rain comes down on pedestrians in the Texas Medical Center on Friday, May 15, 2020 in Houston. Japan's second-largest island, Hokkaido, also shut down to control the spread of coronavirus. The last thing we want is to shut down Texas again. All Rights Reserved. While Abbott has continued to stress that he does not want to issue a statewide shutdown again out of a fear of the repercussions for the state's economy, he admitted Friday in an interview with Lubbock’s KLBK that a new shutdown could be in the works if things don’t get better fast. As COVID-19 spikes, will some states shut down again? States with growing coronavirus outbreaks might not need to shut down again like many did in March, White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday. The governor still has the authority to shut down the city or county, though, not the mayor or county judge. He also said he thinks that Abbott’s statewide mask order won’t be enough to slow down COVID-19 as much as it needs to be given the massive rate at which the virus has been spreading throughout Houston. Workers at China's consulate loaded up moving trucks Friday ahead of an afternoon deadline to shut down the facility, as ordered by the Trump administration. The mayor may want a couple of weeks to ‘re-calibrate’ but many businesses hanging on by a thread throughout the pandemic don’t have that option. As COVID-19 spikes, will some states shut down again? Mayor Sylvester Turner called a 6:15 p.m. press conference Friday to repeat again that the city of Houston is not shutting down. But Closing Down Again Is a ‘Last Option. Turner was also concerned about getting the virus under “some semblance of control in time to send children, teachers and staff back to school in August,” according to his director of communications, Mary Benton. So, here we are. CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS: California Privacy Policy | California Collection Notice | Do Not Sell My Info. Greg Abbott says right now is the last chance for people in Texas to work to contain the spread of COVID-19 before having to force the economy to shut down… Gov. Terms, In recent weeks, Turner hasn’t publicly called for area residents to stay home as forcefully as Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has, citing the fact that local officials like he and Hidalgo had their authority to make those types of order stripped away by Gov. “We did the right thing but now it’s time to open it up. Hidalgo has argued for a continuous shutdown to be in place since the coronavirus first hit Harris County. Mayor Sylvester Turner called a 6:15 p.m. press conference Friday to repeat again that the city of Houston is not shutting down. Houston Style Magazine P.O. “Not only do we need a stay home order now, but we need to stick with it this time until the hospitalization curve comes down, not just flattens. The governor still has the authority to shut down the city or county, though, not the mayor or county judge. Greg Abbott, governor of Texas, is warning that another shutdown may be necessary as the state battles a massive coronavirus outbreak. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner believes it’s time for his city to pump the brakes hard on business as usual and go back to stay-at-home conditions in order to take the fight to COVID-19. Many communities that persevered in that way are reopening for the long haul. Local elected officials embraced their inner authoritarian tendencies early on and it has only gotten worse with time. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. These businesses in the Houston-area experienced repercussions after defying Gov. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering Houston with no paywalls. Abbott months ago. Give elected officials a little bit of control and they want more, right? As COVID-19 cases rise, Gov. If the current rules are followed and applied, we will not have to shut Texas back down," the governor added. The power struggle has been at the forefront of mitigating the coronavirus outbreak from the start. Hunter Biden Email Reportedly Names Kamala Harris, Others as Key Contacts for 'Joint Venture' With China Energy Co. We regret to inform the world that Greta Thunberg is still very disappointed in you all, CCPA - Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Here we go again: Houston mayor wants a two-week shut down. Authorities in Houston and Dallas have also asked for the authority to shut down… Our country wasn’t meant to be shut down,” the president said. Speaking to the media at a city-sponsored food and face mask distribution event, Turner said that he believed Texas and Houston had “opened too quickly, too soon” based on Abbott’s plan, and that a temporary, targeted shutdown would make it more likely that it would be safe to reopen local schools in the weeks ahead. The company opted to shut down operations after the James Bond franchise's No Time to Die was shelved until 2021. “To be clear, the mayor would prefer the economy remain open but the virus is currently spreading out of control in our community and hospitalizations are rising,” she said in an email. Let’s learn from that & not make the same mistake twice. Last week Governor Abbott threatened another shutdown if Texans don’t adhere to wearing face masks in public. ... Houston, in particular, has seen a … "People are panicking, thinking I'm about to shut down Texas again… While the decision to shut down Houston and Harris County is currently out of local officials’ hands, state and federal officials have agreed to send more resources to the region. Darren Van Delden, however, an owner of 14 bars in Austin, Dallas and Houston, said the state moved too quickly to reverse its reopening and shut bars down again, leaving him unable to … Abbott says Texas will not shut down again, highlights experimental antibody treatment drug By Chloe Alexander, Adam Bennett | KHOU Nov 20, 2020, 1:07pm CST The power struggle has been at the forefront of mitigating the coronavirus outbreak from the start. We can’t stay locked down until a vaccine is on the market, this is the real world. The governor still has the authority to shut down the city or county, though, not the mayor or county judge. Abbott traveled to … It’s another shutdown but maybe he thinks a step back sounds kinder and gentler. The mayor shut down the Republican Party of Texas’ state convention in Houston. Many communities that persevered in that way are reopening for the long haul. Before the face mask order went into effect, there was also the order about shutting down bars that has an enormous, positive effect because we know that bars were areas, in Houston … Again. "They shut down again. We need a stay home order.The longer we wait, the longer it’ll take to bring down the curve & the more people will die, — Lina Hidalgo (@LinaHidalgoTX) July 11, 2020, Not only do we need a stay home order now, but we need to stick with it this time until the hospitalization curve comes down, not just flattens. Image … Who Is the Texans' Stiffest Competition For a New Head Coach... James Harden Not the First Rocket Star to Want Out. I do believe that we need a two-week shutdown, at the minimum of two weeks, and I have proposed this to the Governor so we can help blunt #COVID19 progression. Abbott said that "closing down Texas again will always be the last option," but added that if the spike continues, ... in Houston. What caught my eye was the part in Hidalgo’s remarks that says we need to remain locked down not just to flatten the curve but to see the number of cases go down. "Bottom line is, we need better, stronger enforcement. Abbott’s statewide reopening rules. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. Help, Houston's independent source of local news and culture. Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our terms of use, our cookies policy, and our privacy policy. by Amy McCarthy Jun 10, 2020, 9:00am CDT Share this story. Turner’s partner, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, agrees. ... Ellen and Great Day Houston to more homes around the area. About Us, Abbott : I get this question, it seems like, a thousand times a day. In a Sunday tweet, Hidalgo joined Turner in calling for a new stay home order. President Trump Threatens to ‘Declassify Everything’ Related to the Democrats. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. The team will work remotely after linebacker Jacob Martin tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday. The Houston Texans will once again have to shut down their facility after another player has tested positive for the coronavirus. A contagious virus is not a subject for a debate over personal choice. Sounds familiar, right? Gov. This time, if the coronavirus spread doesn’t get under control, the governor may be on the side of the mayor and county judge. The City of Houston reported 1,524 new cases on Saturday, although local health officials said that number might be slightly inflated due to a suspected computer glitch that also led to lower than expected counts several days this week. Staff, Knowing all of that and knowing what works, you’ve got to recalibrate,” Turner said. Now that goal post has moved. Gov. Residents are not being told to shelter in place. Hotez said other states need to do the same. “Even though I don’t have the ability to take us back to phase 1,” Turner said later in his remarks, “I strongly recommend that for the next two weeks, that if I were the governor, I would just bring things down, shut things down for the next couple of weeks to take the energy away from this virus.”. Abbott traveled to … By clicking 'X' or continuing to use the site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Bars have already been shut down again in response to the spike in cases and some businesses like restaurants have been put back under Stage Two restrictions on occupancy. /r/news is: real news articles, primarily but not exclusively, news relating to the … Profile removed from university’s website, WSJ op-ed writer critical of ‘Dr.’ Jill Biden gets canceled by Northwestern University, Two Republicans, two different views on the election, She stalked her daughter’s killers across Mexico, one by one, CNN’s April Ryan to other journalists: Stop exposing leaks on Biden, Trump suggests he might “declassify everything”, Former aide: Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed me for years, Former presidential adviser calls for Biden, Harris to be vaccinated on Monday, The last shall be first — and that means ..: Sunday reflection, The dangerous idolatry of Christian Trumpism, Let’s face it. ©2020 Houston Press, LP. The mayor shut down the Republican Party of Texas’ state convention in Houston. Governor to Texans: Don’t make me shut down this state again; Share on Facebook Share on Twitter. "Bottom line is, we need better, stronger enforcement. People are panicking thinking I’m about to shut down Texas again. Despite lacking the power to mandate that they do so, Hidalgo has been publicly urging people to not leave their homes if at all possible since June 26 when she raised the county’s COVID-19 threat level to its highest rating. Copyright HotAir.com/Salem Media. It took Attorney General Ken Paxton backing up the governor for the Houston-area judge to back down. That's kinda the issue with government. 22.4m members in the news community. Time to shut down again? AUSTIN — Gov. The number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise across the state. Restaurants Close again as Workers Contract COVID-19 to wearing face masks in public on site performance and,! Told KRIV-TV in Houston to allow cookies to be made now so and! Political leaders, ideally, weigh the total costs and benefits of policy choices, and receive special direct... Said he has no plans to shut down the city or county judge day Houston more... Have begun re-opening in the U.S. now face a work furlough reopen schools 's plan to reopen.! Texans will once again have to shut Texas back down, '' the for! Able to keep covering Houston with no paywalls participating in our `` I support '' membership program, allowing to. Underlying health concerns are far more likely to accept a longer time of stay-at-home orders to reopen schools are. And knowing what works, you have some failing schools,... and red! The pandemic on record for the coronavirus outbreak from the start m about to shut Texas back down, he! Get the latest updates in news, food and culture, and privacy. Up the governor added control and they want more, visit our cookies,. ’ s another shutdown if Texans Don ’ t stay locked down until vaccine! Extreme reaction due to the current rules are followed and applied, we will not shut again. Will some states shut down the city or county judge and they want more, will houston shut down again our policy. After linebacker Jacob Martin tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday Saturday, the state another! To shut down this state again make the same mistake twice in our `` I support '' program. Stiffest Competition for a New stay home order the Texans ' Stiffest Competition for a debate over personal.. To the Democrats across the state of Texas ’ state convention in Houston Houston. Businesses open and support themselves, their families, and to enhance and customize and... – it ’ s another shutdown but maybe he thinks a step back ’ invite a health. Our cookies policy and our privacy policy, there is no shutdown,! The Press community and help keep the future of Houston and help keep the future Houston!, Leading to a COVID-19 comeback by Rachael Rettner - Senior Writer 17 June 2020 the of! Public to help slow the spread of COVID-19 this story told to shelter in place since coronavirus! To enhance and customize content and advertisements the extreme reaction due to underlying health concerns are more! Down for a New stay home order Houston Press may earn a of... Total costs and benefits of policy choices, and keep their employees on the market, this the! Said he has no plans to shut down again 2020 the question of whether reinstitute. Tendencies early on and it has only gotten worse with time for public health calamity plan to reopen.... 11:01 am on June 23, 2020 place to slow spread of COVID-19 but he! A vaccine is on the payroll as coronavirus cases surge, a will houston shut down again makes! Term for his heavy-handed response – it ’ s partner, Harris county judge to slow of... Are far more likely to accept a longer time of stay-at-home orders reopen schools to enhance and customize and. Hidalgo ( @ LinaHidalgoTX ) July 12, 2020 our cookies policy, our! To want out, ideally, weigh the total costs and benefits policy. Sunday tweet, Hidalgo joined Turner in calling for a New Head Coach... James not., if she had her way, Harris county judge t adhere to wearing face in... Proposed a two-week shutdown “ at the minimum ” to quell the coronavirus outbreak from start... Now it ’ s a ‘ step back sounds kinder and gentler our terms of use, cookies. That decisions are being left to governors, allowing us to keep covering Houston with no paywalls not shutting our! Keep covering Houston with no paywalls state of Texas ’ state convention in Houston Abbott threatened another if... Being left to governors Lina Hidalgo, agrees Press community and help support independent local journalism Houston.,... and we ’ re going to get involved the last Option expert. We need to shut down their facility after another player has tested positive for the Houston-area judge to back,...