Texas Governor Abbott was caught recording claiming reopening would increase the spread of coronavirus on the same day

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was caught on an audio recording saying that reopening state businesses “will in fact lead to an increased spread” of the coronavirus, adding: “The goal has never been reduce the transmission of COVID-19 to zero “.

The audio, released by the Progress Texas group, is believed to be from a May 1 call Abbott held with state lawmakers to discuss reopening businesses shut down by the coronavirus outbreak. A spokesperson for Progress Texas said The current of San Antonio that the recording was provided by the chief of staff of a lawmaker in the Texas Democratic Party.

“How do we know that reopening businesses will not lead to the faster spread of COVID-19? Look, the point is, pretty much every scientific and medical report shows that every time you have a reopening … an increase in the spread, “Abbott said in the recording. “It’s almost ipso facto … The goal has never been to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 to zero.”

“It can never be to keep transmission at zero because there always will be, with a rapidly transmissible disease like this, there will always be a level of transmission … The goal is to reopen using strategies, which are proven strategies that can continue to contain the spread of COVID-19. These are strategies that have been shown to be effective in the state of Texas over the past month and a half. “

Abbott then says he believes businesses can reopen at 25% capacity before mentioning other businesses like Home Depot and the HEB grocery chain that have used social distancing strategies, like face masks.

“When we engage in a safe distance, when we engage in practices where people wear face masks, when we use best practices, we are able to open up in a way that we control and limit the spread of the disease. COVID-19, ”he continues.

“The main thing that we are looking for … the main number that I have seen doctors and epidemiologists use,” he adds, “is a reduction in the percentage of people who test positive. If we can continue to achieve that goal, it means we have COVID-19 under the control we need … It is just not scientifically or mathematically possible to achieve zero in the transmission rate, either for COVID, either for ordinary flu, whether for any type of infectious disease. “

“Governor Abbott has finally admitted that opening Texas prematurely will lead to more cases and more deaths,” Texas Democratic Party executive director Manny Garcia said in a statement. “Republicans are putting the lives of our families at risk for their billionaire donors to get richer.”

“It is absolutely shameful that Governor Abbott does not face the press, answer tough questions and admit the deadly risks of his decisions,” Garcia added. “He knew people would die after Texas reopened and now he has to own it.”

Within two days May 1 state lockdowns relax, Texas reported their second, third and fourth highest daily peaks in cases since the start of the epidemic.

On May 2, Texas reported 1,293 new cases, the second highest number of new cases in the state. It reported 1,026 new infections on May 3, the fourth highest number and on May 1, it reported 1,142 new cases, the third highest figure on record by the state.

On Tuesday afternoon, Abbott announced that hair salons will be allowed to reopen on Friday and that gyms will be allowed to reopen at 25% capacity on May 18.

News week has contacted Gov. Abbott’s office for comment. This story will be updated with any response.

Update (5/5/2020, 9.45 p.m.): This article has been updated to include a statement from the Texas Democratic Party.