00:00We need to understand that COVID-19 has taken a very swift and very dangerous turn in Texas
00:08over just the past few weeks. Today we have done a full 180 from worst to first.
00:15We are controlling the virus better than any state in the country and any nation on the globe.
00:45Today we're bringing it to 100 percent of the workforce must stay home.
00:57These are non-essential services. This is the most drastic action we can take.
01:03The New York state has 15 times more cases than any other state right now.
01:21I remain flexible in my statewide standard and we will continue to evaluate based upon
01:28all the data whether or not there needs to be heightened standard and stricter enforcement.
01:34Now I know this is a great sacrifice but we must respond to this challenge with strength and with
01:48resolve.
02:08The tragedies in Texas have been far fewer than in most states in the United States.
02:12Opening Texas must occur in phases.
02:43Wearing a mask is one of the best things that we can do and I understand I'm getting a lot of
03:01not happy phone calls off of what I said yesterday about wearing a mask in public
03:08but I'm sorry it makes people unhappy. I do not consider it a major burden
03:16and it really is a simple measure that can save lives.
03:31We're giving the store owners the right to say if you're not wearing a mask you can't come in.
03:38That store owner has a right to protect themselves.
03:42That store owner has a right to protect the other patrons in that store.
03:56We strongly recommend that everyone wear a mask however it's not a mandate and we make clear
04:05that no jurisdiction can impose any type of penalty or fine for anyone not wearing a mask.
04:12Everyone should be encouraged but by my executive order it supersedes local orders.
04:35You may have it and not know it that's why it is so important
04:44for you to wear a face mask when you go out.
04:51It's wrong to deprive somebody of their liberty just because they're not wearing a mask
04:56during the course of dealing with this challenge.
05:04To minimize the spread of COVID-19 during phase one, on the advice of doctors,
05:16I am limiting occupancy to no more than 25 percent.
05:21The positivity rate that just one month ago was at 4.27 percent is now well over 13 percent and
05:37with a positivity rate of over 10 percent I declared early on it would be an alarm bell
05:43for Texas to take action.
05:51So
06:05if I could go back and redo anything it probably would have been to slow down the opening of bars.
06:21I called a couple of bars and restaurants myself where I saw pictures of the situations
06:33that were in their bars and restaurants and I said to them you're playing with your license.
06:50We still have much more to do. We have to monitor the local infection rate.
06:57Local governments must ensure compliance and do tracing. We have to watch out for a second wave.
07:20you
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