Smaller communities have also struggled to get tests because they were not prioritized by the government or are too cash-strapped to buy them from the private sector, which runs the majority of tests in Texas.
Shannon Najmabadi
Shannon Najmabadi was a reporter at the Tribune from 2017 to 2021, most recently covering women's health. Her stories — on higher education and other topics — have prompted lawmakers to change three state laws, including one involving a very narrow definition of the word “pickle.” She is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and Columbia University.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Texas clinics resume abortion services as state acknowledges ban is no longer in place
A new order from Republican Gov. Greg Abbott that took effect Wednesday allows more procedures to resume in health care facilities that agree to reserve a certain number of beds for coronavirus patients and refrain from seeking scarce protective equipment from public sources.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Federal appeals court says Texas can block pill-induced abortions during pandemic
In March, Gov. Greg Abbott barred all procedures not “immediately medically necessary,” and the state’s attorney general declared that the restriction applied to abortions — sparking a weekslong court fight and prompting some women to seek abortions out of state.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Texas officials project optimism on hospital capacity, medical resources
Concerns that Texas hospitals would be unable to accommodate a surge of COVID-19 patients seem to have been assuaged in recent days.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott relaxes ban on nonessential medical procedures, says courts will decide if abortions can proceed
Abbott’s original ban was intended to preserve medical resources. On Friday, he said Texas had ample hospital bed space and a strong supply chain of personal protective equipment.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Bracing for coronavirus but losing money every day, this East Texas hospital had to cut employees
Health care facilities are under financial pressure after a steep drop-off in lucrative surgeries, meant to free up hospital space and preserve protective equipment for the coronavirus outbreak.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Federal appeals court allows medication abortions in Texas during coronavirus pandemic
The appeals court’s latest ruling comes after abortion providers and state officials have battled over what access to the procedure should be allowed during the public health crisis.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
With Greg Fenves leaving, UT-Austin loses “steady” hand in unsteady times
Fenves’ five-year tenure as president brought a sense of stability to the downtown Austin campus. With the coronavirus pandemic upending the university and hammering its budget, his successor will face “trial by ordeal.”
Posted in
Higher Education
UT-Austin President Greg Fenves leaving Texas flagship June 30 for Emory University
University of Texas officials confirmed the departure on Tuesday morning.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Health care workers on the front lines of coronavirus don’t get expanded paid sick leave protections
The Labor Department has urged employers to “be judicious” in exempting their workers. Critics say the exemption hurts nurses and doctors, who have already complained about their lack of protective equipment.
