Governor Abbott Updates Disaster Declaration for Regions With High COVID-19 Hospitalizations
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:
WHEREAS, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, issued a disaster proclamation on March 13, 2020, certifying under Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) poses an imminent threat of disaster for all counties in the State of Texas; and
WHEREAS, in each subsequent month effective through today, I have renewed the disaster declaration for all Texas counties; and
WHEREAS, I issued Executive Order GA-31 on September 17, 2020, relating to hospital capacity during the COVID-19 disaster;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Texas, do hereby amend the paragraph of Executive Order GA-31 that defines “areas with high hospitalizations” to read as follows, effective at 12:01 a.m. on October 14, 2020:
“Areas with high hospitalizations” means any Trauma Service Area that has had seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients as a percentage of total hospital capacity exceeds 15 percent, until such time as the Trauma Service Area has seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients as a percentage of total hospital capacity is 15 percent or less. A current list of areas with high hospitalizations will be maintained at www.dshs.texas.gov/ga3031.
This proclamation shall remain in effect and in full force for as long as Executive Order GA-31 is in effect and in full force, unless otherwise modified, amended, rescinded, or superseded by the governor.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 8th day of October, 2020.
Governor Greg Abbott