德克萨斯州共和党州长格雷格·艾伯特周五下午宣布，他计划签署一项行政命令，以“安全”的方式解除冠状病毒封锁，允许企业重新开业。

这一声明可能会在美国引发一场激烈的辩论，即美国人应该忍受多长时间的严重经济限制，才能遏制一场已经夺去1万多人生命的流行病。医学界和许多民主党人主张延长关闭时间以降低感染率。商界和许多共和党人希望在大萧条造成持久经济损失之前结束自大萧条以来最严重的衰退。

雅培表示，作为一个独立国家，德克萨斯州将成为世界第11大经济体，它可以在个人安全和经济安全之间找到平衡。

尽管艾伯特州长没有透露行政命令的细节，但他表示，他正在研究重新开放德克萨斯州企业的方法。他承诺有关行政命令的细节将于下周公布，但预计该命令将为企业提供一份如何安全重开的指导方针清单。

“我们将集中精力保护生命，同时恢复生计，”艾伯特说。“我们可以而且必须这样做。我们可以双管齐下，通过帮助德州人重返工作岗位，扩大并恢复他们想要的生计。德克萨斯人有一点，他们喜欢工作，他们想重返工作岗位。我们必须就如何安全地做到这一点提出策略。”

“我们将战略性地运作，”雅培补充道。"如果我们在没有适当策略的情况下做得太快，就会导致另一个潜在的终结."

新闻周刊联系疾病控制和预防中心征求意见。

雅培公司还承诺，导致该疾病的冠状病毒COVID-19的检测将是该计划的一部分。周三，州长宣布沃尔格林将很快提供一个可以通过免下车窗口管理的测试，并将在15分钟内提供结果。雅培估计，每个沃尔格林商店每天可以测试多达3000人。测试由雅培实验室开发；尽管名字相似，但艾伯特州长与该公司没有任何关系。

​

2020年3月18日，德克萨斯州阿灵顿市，州长格雷格·艾伯特在阿灵顿应急管理中心举行的新闻发布会上向媒体发表讲话时，展示了COVID-19测试收集瓶。

雅培还宣布了COVID-19对德克萨斯州影响的最新统计数据。大约116，000名得克萨斯人接受了冠状病毒检测；其中，11，449人检测呈阳性。德克萨斯州已有221例COVID-19相关死亡，1，532例住院治疗和1，336例疾病康复。为了被认为已经康复，一个先前被感染的人必须在没有病毒的情况下度过14天。雅培还表示，德克萨斯州有7834台可用的呼吸机。

目前，得克萨斯州正在执行一项在家办公的命令，关闭非必要的企业和餐馆，该命令将持续到4月30日。雅培没有透露重新开放德克萨斯州的最新时间表。唐纳德·特朗普总统上个月因表示希望如此而遭到抨击复活节前重新开放美国，4月12日。他后来收回了这些评论，特朗普现在说他希望这个国家可以在五月初开业。

尽管美国国家过敏和传染病研究所所长、特朗普冠状病毒特别工作组成员安东尼·福西博士主张全国封锁为了阻止COVID-19的扩散，特朗普拒绝这样做。

“我们不能让治愈比问题更糟糕，”特朗普在3月23日表示。“我们必须开放我们的国家，因为这导致了一些问题，在我看来，这些问题可能要大得多。”

下图由提供Statista，说明了COVID-19在美国的传播。

COVID-19病毒在美国的传播

疾病控制和预防中心关于使用面部覆盖物减缓COVID-19传播的建议

• 疾病预防控制中心建议在难以保持社交距离的公共场合佩戴布质面罩。

• 一个简单的布质面部覆盖物可以帮助那些被感染者和没有表现出症状的人减缓病毒的传播。

• 布面可以由家用物品制成。指南由疾病预防控制中心提供。（http://www . CDC . gov/corona virus/2019-ncov/prevent-get-disk/DIY-cloth-face-covers . html)

• 应该定期清洗布面。洗衣机就够了。

• 通过不接触眼睛、鼻子和嘴来练习安全地去除面部覆盖物，并在去除覆盖物后立即洗手。

世界卫生组织关于避免冠状病毒疾病传播的建议(COVID-19)

卫生建议

• 经常用肥皂和水洗手，或者用酒精洗手。

• 咳嗽或打喷嚏后洗手；照顾病人时；食物准备之前、期间和之后；吃饭前；使用厕所后；当手明显变脏时；处理动物或废物后。

• 与任何咳嗽或打喷嚏的人保持至少1米(3英尺)的距离。

• 避免触摸你的手、鼻子和嘴。不要在公共场合吐痰。

• 咳嗽或打喷嚏时，用纸巾或弯肘捂住口鼻。立即丢弃纸巾并清洁双手。

医疗建议

• 如果你有任何症状，避免与其他人密切接触。

• 如果你感觉不舒服，即使有轻微的症状，如头痛和流鼻涕，也要呆在家里，以避免疾病扩散到医疗机构和其他人。

• 如果您出现严重症状(发烧、咳嗽、呼吸困难)，请尽早就医，并提前联系当地卫生部门。

• 记录最近与他人的任何联系和旅行细节，以提供给能够追踪和预防疾病传播的当局。

• 了解卫生当局发布的COVID-19最新进展，并遵循他们的指导。

面具和手套的使用

• 如果照顾病人，健康的人只需要戴口罩。

• 如果你咳嗽或打喷嚏，请戴上口罩。

• 当与频繁的手部清洁结合使用时，口罩是有效的。

• 戴口罩时不要触摸。如果你触摸面具，请洗手。

• 学习如何正确戴上、取下和处理口罩。扔掉口罩后，请洗手。

• 不要重复使用一次性口罩。

• 经常洗手比戴橡胶手套更能有效防止感染COVID-19。

• COVID-19病毒仍然可以在橡胶手套上被发现，并通过触摸你的脸传播。

TEXAS TO EASE CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER TO 'RESTORE LIVELIHOODS,' GOVERNOR SAYS

Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, announced Friday afternoon that he planned to sign an executive order that would lift the coronavirus lockdown in a "safe" way, allowing businesses to reopen.

The announcement is likely sharpen debate in the United States over how long Americans should endure crippling economic restrictions to contain a pandemic that has claimed more than 10,000 lives. The medical community and many Democrats have argued for extended closures to reduce infection rates. The business community and many Republicans want to end the deepest recession since the Great Depression before it does lasting economic damage.

Abbott said Texas, which would be the world's 11th largest economy it were an independent country, could find a balance between personal safety and economic security.

Though Gov. Abbott didn't reveal details about the executive order, he said he's looking into ways to reopen Texas businesses. He promised that details about the executive order will be available next week, but it is expected to provide businesses with a list of guidelines on how to safely reopen.

"We will focus on protecting lives while restoring livelihoods," Abbott said. "We can and we must do this. We can do both, expand and restore the livelihoods that Texans want to have by helping them return to work. One thing about Texans, they enjoy working and they want to get back into the workforce. We have to come up with strategies on how we can do this safely."

"We will operate strategically," Abbott added. "If we do it too fast without appropriate strategies, it will lead to another potential closure."

Newsweek reached out to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for comment.

Abbott also promised testing for the coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19 would be part of the plan. On Wednesday, the governor announced that Walgreens locations would soon offer a test that can be administered via the drive-thru window, and will provide results within 15 minutes. Abbott estimates that each Walgreens store could test as many as 3,000 people a day. The tests are developed by Abbott Labs; despite the similar name, Gov. Abbott has no connection to the company.

Gov. Greg Abbott displays COVID-19 test collection vials as he addresses the media during a press conference held at Arlington Emergency Management on March 18, 2020 in Arlington, Texas.

Abbott also announced updated statistics for COVID-19's effect on Texas. Approximately 116,000 Texans have been tested for coronavirus; of those, 11,449 tested positive. Texas has seen 221 COVID-19 related deaths, 1,532 hospitalizations and 1,336 recoveries from the disease. To be considered recovered, a previously-infected person must go 14 days without the virus in their system. Abbott also said that Texas had 7,834 ventilators available.

Currently, Texas is under a stay-at-home order closing non-essential businesses and dine-in restaurants which is due to last until April 30. Abbott did not reveal an updated timeline for reopening Texas. President Donald Trump came under fire last month for saying he hoped to reopen the United States by Easter, April 12. He later backtracked on these comments, and Trump now says he hopes the country can open by early May.

Though Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and member of Trump's coronavirus task force, has argued in favor of a nationwide lockdown to stop COVID-19 from spreading, Trump has refused to do so.

"We can't have the cure be worse than the problem," Trump said on March 23. "We have to open our country because that causes problems that, in my opinion, could be far bigger problems."

The graphic below, provided by Statista, illustrates the spread of COVID-19 across the United States.

The spread of the COVID-19 virus in the U.S.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advice on Using Face Coverings to Slow Spread of COVID-19

• CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering in public where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

• A simple cloth face covering can help slow the spread of the virus by those infected and by those who do not exhibit symptoms.

• Cloth face coverings can be fashioned from household items. Guides are offered by the CDC. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html)

• Cloth face coverings should be washed regularly. A washing machine will suffice.

• Practice safe removal of face coverings by not touching eyes, nose, and mouth, and wash hands immediately after removing the covering.

World Health Organization advice for avoiding spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

Hygiene advice

• Clean hands frequently with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rub.

• Wash hands after coughing or sneezing; when caring for the sick; before, during and after food preparation; before eating; after using the toilet; when hands are visibly dirty; and after handling animals or waste.

• Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

• Avoid touching your hands, nose and mouth. Do not spit in public.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue immediately and clean your hands.

Medical advice

• Avoid close contact with others if you have any symptoms.

• Stay at home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and runny nose, to avoid potential spread of the disease to medical facilities and other people.

• If you develop serious symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) seek medical care early and contact local health authorities in advance.

• Note any recent contact with others and travel details to provide to authorities who can trace and prevent spread of the disease.

• Stay up to date on COVID-19 developments issued by health authorities and follow their guidance.

Mask and glove usage

• Healthy individuals only need to wear a mask if taking care of a sick person.

• Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.

• Masks are effective when used in combination with frequent hand cleaning.

• Do not touch the mask while wearing it. Clean hands if you touch the mask.

• Learn how to properly put on, remove and dispose of masks. Clean hands after disposing of the mask.

• Do not reuse single-use masks.

• Regularly washing bare hands is more effective against catching COVID-19 than wearing rubber gloves.

• The COVID-19 virus can still be picked up on rubber gloves and transmitted by touching your face