The coronavirus pandemic has proved a leadership test like no other for the second-term governor. He holds nearly all power over the state’s response as it careens toward crisis.
Coronavirus in Texas
As the coronavirus spread across the state, The Texas Tribune covered the most important health, economic, academic and breaking developments that affected Texans. Our map tracker showed the number of cases, deaths, tests and vaccinations in Texas from 2020-22.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Why one Texas bar owner joined a lawsuit against Gov. Greg Abbott
Chris Bergeron is one of more than 30 bar owners suing Gov. Greg Abbott for an executive order that effectively shuttered bars. Listen to what Bergeron had to say about the order’s impact in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast.
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Coronavirus in Texas
As Texas morgues fill up, refrigerator trucks are on the way in several counties
More than 3,000 Texans have died from the coronavirus and counties are preparing for even more deaths by expanding their capacities to store bodies.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott warns if spread of COVID-19 doesn’t slow, “the next step would have to be a lockdown”
Abbott has repeated that warning multiple times in local television interviews this week.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Houston hospitals are increasingly turning away new patients as coronavirus overwhelms emergency rooms
The busiest hospitals in Houston are increasingly telling emergency responders they cannot safely accept new patients as hundreds of coronavirus patients crowd emergency rooms, and hospitals scramble to open more intensive care space.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Analysis: Skip the convention, but get ready for school
Debates about in-person political conventions and in-person public school classes revolve around the same question: Are we ready for this?
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas GOP sues Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner over canceled in-person convention
The gathering, which was expected to draw around 6,000 people, was set to happen next week in Houston.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Nearly 80 Texas counties have opted out of Gov. Greg Abbott’s mask order. Others refuse to enforce it.
The governor allowed counties with 20 active cases or fewer to opt out.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas bans elective surgeries in more than 100 counties as coronavirus hospitalizations keep climbing
Gov. Greg Abbott said the decision is meant to free up resources to address the pandemic. The attorney general’s office has not said the order bans abortions, an assertion that sparked a legal battle over Abbott’s earlier prohibition on elective procedures.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Two major Texas counties are trimming polling locations as workers pull out over coronavirus
Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to not require voters to wear masks is driving away some poll workers, officials say.