AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today issued a proclamation
suspending elective surgeries at hospitals in Cameron, Hidalgo, Nueces, and
Webb counties to help ensure hospital bed availability for COVID-19 patients in
these communities. This proclamation amends the Governor’s previous Executive Order to include these four counties in
addition to Bexar, Dallas, Harris, and Travis counties.
“As these counties experience a surge in COVID-19 cases
and hospitalizations, we are committed to working alongside hospitals to help
ensure that every COVID-19 patient who needs a bed will have access to
one,” said Governor Abbott. “We are constantly monitoring the data at
the local level and will continue to take precautionary action where it is
necessary. I want to remind all Texans that each of us have a responsibility to
help slow the spread of this virus, and I urge everyone to wear a mask, wash
their hands regularly, practice social distancing, and stay home if
possible.”
“And the governor is right – if we don’t do that now, we face a return to even stricter measures to protect the health of all Texans.
Under the Executive Order, the Governor directs all
hospitals in these counties to postpone surgeries and procedures that are
not immediately, medically necessary to correct a serious medical condition or
to preserve the life of a patient who without immediate performance of the
surgery or procedure would be at risk for serious adverse medical consequences
or death, as determined by the patient’s physician. Through proclamation,
the Governor can add or subtract from the list of counties included in the
Executive Order to address surges in hospitalizations that may arise in other
parts of the state.View the Governor’s proclamation.