Name: Abbott says 20-somethings let their guard down amid coronavirus
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Abbott says 20-somethings let their guard down amid coronavirus

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Nicole Coblerncobler@statesman.comView CommentsGov. Greg Abbott scolded Texans in their 20s for letting their guard down, saying they’ve refused to wear face masks or practice social distancing to curb the spread of COVID-19.“What we’re seeing there is that people of that age group, they’re not following these appropriate best health and safety practices,” he said in an interview Monday with Lubbock’s KLBK-TV. “They’re not wearing face masks, they’re not sanitizing their hands, they’re not maintaining the safe distancing practices. And as a result, they are contracting COVID-19 at a record pace in the state of Texas.”Abbott did not provide any evidence of an increase in infections among 20-somethings during his TV appearances Monday. However, Texas has seen a steady increase in new COVID-19 cases each day and a recent spike in statewide hospitalizations.Hours later, Austin officials rebuked the governor for not giving local officials the authority to enforce face masks or other social distancing measures.Former Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt, a key decision maker in the area’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus, called the governor’s ability to grant face mask enforcement for local officials “low-hanging fruit.”Health officials largely agree that wearing a face covering, in addition to social distancing, can limit the spread of the coronavirus. Abbott regularly urges Texans to wear a mask, even sharing a video from his office Monday that featured Dallas Cowboy Jaylon Smith on the importance of wearing a mask.But Eckhardt said local officials around the state have been unable to change the governor’s stance on allowing local enforcement of face coverings. She said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff sent a letter to Abbott last week requesting the authority to enforce face masks, but he denied the request.“Judge Wolff did receive a response from the governor's office that the governor would not provide local authorities (the ability to) enforce face masking,” Eckhardt said. “Although he, too, agreed that it was a good adaptation. So, that was disheartening.”Local orders are superseded by state orders from the governor, which have allowed restaurants and other businesses to operate. Jail time as punishment for violating any of Abbott’s coronavirus-related orders can’t be used either.Travis County moved to its Stage 4 guidelines over the weekend after officials reported a rising number of cases and hospitalizations.Stage 4 recommends lower-risk individuals to avoid gatherings with more than 10 people. Higher-risk people should limit gatherings with more than two people. The guidelines also recommend that low-risk people avoid any non-essential travel and limit the opening of workplaces to expanded essential businesses.“The mayor and I, and (Judge Sam Biscoe), completely recognize that the governor of the state of Texas has taken away from us enforcement authority to put into place, adaptive measures that have proven to be effective in COVID-19,” Eckhardt said in the Monday press conference.The daily number of COVID-19 cases in Texas reached more than 2,000 new cases on Friday and Saturday, records for the state. That number dropped to roughly 1,200 Monday, in line with statewide trends that show lower numbers reported on Mondays.A spokesman for the Department of State Health Services have reported “recent cases/outbreaks in people in their 20s,” but said it’s too soon to have hard data.Texas COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to climb. Abbott is expected to address the increase in a news conference Tuesday.View Comments

Nicole Coblerncobler@statesman.comView CommentsGov. Greg Abbott scolded Texans in their 20s for letting their guard down, saying they’ve refused to wear face masks or practice social distancing to curb the spread of COVID-19.“What we’re seeing there is that people of that age group, they’re not following these appropriate best health and safety practices,” he said in an interview Monday with Lubbock’s KLBK-TV. “They’re not wearing face masks, they’re not sanitizing their hands, they’re not maintaining the safe distancing practices. And as a result, they are contracting COVID-19 at a record...

Abbott says 20-somethings let their guard down amid coronavirus

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