President Trump Declares Texas a Major Disaster Zone and More Texas Counties Go on Lockdown
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(Listen to the Texas Virus News Podcast)
Texas has been declared a disaster zone.
On Wednesday, President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in Texas as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The declaration makes federal funding available to state and local governments and certain nonprofit organizations for all areas of Texas impacted by Covid-19.
In addition, the “President’s action makes Federal funding available for crisis counseling for affected individuals in all areas in Texas,” according to a White House news release.
Also, on Wednesday, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra issued an executive order requiring all Hays County residents to stay home and shelter in place because of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Hays County, which includes Kyle, Buda, Dripping Springs, San Marcos and Wimberley, now has 11 cases of people with the Covid-19 virus.
The order goes into effect at 11 p.m. on Thursday and it remains active until 4 a.m. on April 10th.
“At least 18 counties, comprising some 60% of Texans, including the major metro areas of Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and Fort Worth are requiring people to stay home except for essential activities,” according to a story in the Wall Street Journal published this week. Texas has 254 counties and 65 have so far reported cases of the Covid-19 virus.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has not issued a statewide lockdown order, but instead, he has left that decision whether to issue a stay at home order up to local authorities.
Austin, which issued a Stay Home/Stay Safe order that went into effect on Wednesday, now reports 119 people with the Covid-19 virus in the Austin-Travis County area, according to the Austin Public Health District. Williamson County also has a stay at home order that went into effect on Wednesday. It has 19 cases.
San Antonio and Bexar County now have 84 cases of people with the Covid-19 virus, according to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District.
