Coronavirus: New York vs. Texas

Brut America

One state is having to reverse its reopening plan while the other is slowly starting to open up. This is how New York's response to the coronavirus crisis compares to that of Texas.

Transcript

00:00We need to understand that COVID-19 has taken a very swift and very dangerous turn in Texas

00:08over just the past few weeks. Today we have done a full 180 from worst to first.

00:15We are controlling the virus better than any state in the country and any nation on the globe.

00:45Today we're bringing it to 100 percent of the workforce must stay home.

00:57These are non-essential services. This is the most drastic action we can take.

01:03The New York state has 15 times more cases than any other state right now.

01:21I remain flexible in my statewide standard and we will continue to evaluate based upon

01:28all the data whether or not there needs to be heightened standard and stricter enforcement.

01:34Now I know this is a great sacrifice but we must respond to this challenge with strength and with

01:48resolve.

02:08The tragedies in Texas have been far fewer than in most states in the United States.

02:12Opening Texas must occur in phases.

02:43Wearing a mask is one of the best things that we can do and I understand I'm getting a lot of

03:01not happy phone calls off of what I said yesterday about wearing a mask in public

03:08but I'm sorry it makes people unhappy. I do not consider it a major burden

03:16and it really is a simple measure that can save lives.

03:31We're giving the store owners the right to say if you're not wearing a mask you can't come in.

03:38That store owner has a right to protect themselves.

03:42That store owner has a right to protect the other patrons in that store.

03:56We strongly recommend that everyone wear a mask however it's not a mandate and we make clear

04:05that no jurisdiction can impose any type of penalty or fine for anyone not wearing a mask.

04:12Everyone should be encouraged but by my executive order it supersedes local orders.

04:35You may have it and not know it that's why it is so important

04:44for you to wear a face mask when you go out.

04:51It's wrong to deprive somebody of their liberty just because they're not wearing a mask

04:56during the course of dealing with this challenge.

05:04To minimize the spread of COVID-19 during phase one, on the advice of doctors,

05:16I am limiting occupancy to no more than 25 percent.

05:21The positivity rate that just one month ago was at 4.27 percent is now well over 13 percent and

05:37with a positivity rate of over 10 percent I declared early on it would be an alarm bell

05:43for Texas to take action.

05:51So

06:05if I could go back and redo anything it probably would have been to slow down the opening of bars.

06:21I called a couple of bars and restaurants myself where I saw pictures of the situations

06:33that were in their bars and restaurants and I said to them you're playing with your license.

06:50We still have much more to do. We have to monitor the local infection rate.

06:57Local governments must ensure compliance and do tracing. We have to watch out for a second wave.

07:20you

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