Why Texas is so far behind other states on virus response

[brooklynite]

Politico

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas is a big state with a proud small-government philosophy. And that’s being tested by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Strict bans on public gatherings to curtail the virus' reach and widespread testing and treatment run counter to the politics of top Texas officials. Instead they're calling on local officials to lead the response.

As governors in states including New York and California have imposed statewide measures such as closing schools and limiting commerce, Texas leaders have been reluctant to set restrictions conservative voters might consider draconian and business leaders oppose. They’ve also opposed steps to expand health insurance coverage.

Texas’ Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration Friday — after dozens of states already had done so — and activated the National Guard on Tuesday, after more than a dozen states already had. State officials have yet to impose statewide limits on public gatherings, close schools or beaches or issue a special open enrollment period for health insurance, as California, New York and other big states have. And some health providers say Texas has been slow to boost coronavirus testing capacity and help them meet equipment needs.

[Ilsa]

1. I heard there's been sudden prepping and hoarding.

Grocery shelves are bare and toilet paper is nowhere to be found at stores.

[hamsterjill]

3. Yep. It's been a little unnerving.

The local grocery chain is HEB and they’ve done a magnificent job keeping San Antonio stores stocked but there are absolutely shortages of things.

They have shortened their hours to allow more time overnight to restock, but when the meat counter is bare when the store opens, we all start to get a little antsy.

[TwilightZone]

7. Yes and no.

Yes, there has been hoarding, but companies like HEB and Target have implemented limits and adjusted hours to give stockers a better chance to reload and supplies like TP are generally available in the first couple hours each morning now. Not ideal, of course, but it's not entirely like the media portrays it, either.

[uponit7771]

2. It's led by Abbot, a sell out MAGA Sucker and wanna be KKKlucker. He wants to keep the numbers low 2

[SunSeeker]

4. Many Texans will die. The death tsunami is coming. And the GOP will be responsible. nt

[Gothmog]

5. Rachel mentioned Texas tonight

Link to tweet

[TwilightZone]

6. Local governments have been pretty aggressive.

Local governments have been aggressive with shutting down major events, including the $400 million SXSW festival in Austin which was one of the first major festivals to be cancelled. Many cities are now down to gatherings of 10 or fewer, malls are closed all over the state, bars and restaurants are closed or delivery/pick-up only and the City of South Padre banned gatherings of 50 or more for Spring Break while beaches in Florida are still packed. Testing has been slow to ramp up, but that's the case in many places with a few notable exceptions. It has ramped up significantly in cities like El Paso, DFW, Houston, and Austin, which is why our case numbers are climbing rapidly.

It's true that Abbott hasn't done shit, but that's his MO and always has been. City governments have been much more assertive. It's still slow and nowhere close to what it should be, of course, but it's pretty comparable to most outside of the hard-hit places like WA and NY.

[herding cats]

8. I live here. I'm sheltering in place now.

Laugh at me, I hope you're correct! I just think we're about to pop like an over full balloon here.

All of my clients and my husbands clients (two very different industries) we've spoken to agree and are social distancing. Texas is a virtual time bomb waiting to explode. We have a disproportionate number of elderly people here, and way too few seem to care, and the state is not going to intervene until it's too late.

Please, let me be wrong, but it's pretty nuts how it's being addressed here.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

9. Me too. Seems an incredible lack of social responsibility. For weeks

and weeks all I heard was "overblown" and was bombarded with childish coronavirus cartoons. Kids blew it out on spring break...parents did seem to care or teach them about responsibility to others.

[Gothmog]

10. The Texas GOP leadership is full of idiots

Link to tweet

[MagickMuffin]

11. I received this from the Tarrant County Democratic Party

From their fb post.

Reported on Twitter Gov Abbott issues a proclamation for local elections to be delayed to Nov 3rd.

We believe more should be done. We also believe we should ease restrictions on voting by mail and allow anyone to vote by mail.

Now here's the real kicker: We have a Senatorial runoff. How will it be determined who runs against Cornyn?
I left a comment concerning this issue and was told Abbott hasn't made a decision on that!

We NEED better Leadership. Abbott is a do nothing (except for his cronies) governor. I so wanted Julian Castro to run against him the last election, but alas he had his sights on running for president.