Gov. Abbott expects Texas public schools to open in August

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is planning on allowing Texas to resume in-person education in August. 

Abbott made the announcement during a WFAA interview, touting the success the state has had in lowering the curve of the COVID-19  pandemic. 

“They should be able to return to classrooms” Abbott told WFAA. “The protocol in the classrooms likely will be different because there would be great sanitization, certain distancing practices, etc. to make sure they are having school in ways that prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

Abbott pointed toward the Department of State Health Service Dashboard in apprising WFAA in the drops in virus cases. He said from mid-April through May 22 there had been a downward trajectory as the number has dropped from 13% to 5%. 

The schools are just one aspect of the state reopening that the governor addressed. Entering the Memorial Day weekend, bars were allowed to open their doors to a 25% occupancy rate. Abbott spoke confidently that bar owners would provide save venues for the public comparing it to when restaurants began reopening, according to WFAA.

“Go enjoy yourself but beside while you’re doing so,” he told WFAA. “Make sure you do not spread COVID-19. The spread why we were able to open up bars is because people have been responsible to have slowed the spread of COVID-19.”

The governor also warned the coronavirus has not gone anywhere and it's prudent to continue practicing social distancing and recommended procedures including wearing masks. A discontinuation of recommended practices could lead to a spread of the coronavirus and limit the state’s ability to reopen the economy. 

The state is adding more testing capabilities in Hispanic communities, which have been the hardest hit in the state’s five most populated counties, WFAA reported. 

The state has also begun tracking Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome. The illness, related to young children exposed to the coronavirus, has gained national attention in the east. The first four cases in Texas popped up in Fort Worth. 

“This is something we are getting on top of to make sure that we don’t have some outbreaks along those lines,” Abbott told WFAA.