COVID-19 News

AUSTIN—At the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas State Parks will be closed to the public effective at the close of business Tuesday, April 7 in order to maintain the safest environment for visitors, volunteers and staff. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will continue to stay current with the latest public health recommendations and will announce when a definite reopening date has been determined.

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CDC continues to study the spread and effects of the novel coronavirus across the United States.  We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms.  This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms.  In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

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HOUSTON — There’s new information on how COVID-19 spreads and it’s a lot easier than scientists expected. New research suggests coronavirus can spread through talking and even breathing.

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Yesterday, Governor Abbott signed Executive Order GA-14 implementing statewide essential services and protocols. This new order from Governor Abbott supersedes any local orders relating to COVID-19.

To stay in line with the actions taken at the state level, Galveston County will not be extending the “Order to Stay Home” that expires on April 3^rd. Instead, Galveston County Judge Mark Henry has issued a new “Order of Essential Services and Activities” for Galveston County mirroring Governor’s Abbott executive order.

Both Governor Abbott’s statewide executive order and the new “Order of Essential Services and Activities” for Galveston County take effect on April 2^nd, 2020 at 12:01am and will last until April 30^th, 2020.

For people and businesses that have questions about Governor Abbott’s new executive order or what is  considered essential, they can visit www.tdem.texas.gov/essentialservices/ or send an email to essentialservices@tdem.texas.gov.

Executive Order GA-14_Statewide_Essential_Service_and_Activity

Galveston County – Order of Essential Services and Activities

CDC has become aware that members of the general public are receiving calls appearing to originate from CDC through caller ID, or they are receiving scammer voice mail messages saying the caller is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some calls are requesting donations.

Read the story: HERE