Texas Tribune Brief

The efforts to quickly add capacity come after Gov. Greg Abbott waived hospitals’ occupancy restrictions Sunday and ordered healthcare providers to postpone surgeries that are not “immediately, medically necessary.”

The orders represent some of the most stringent measures local officials in Texas have taken so far to address the colossal public health crisis.

By the end of Tuesday, residents in at least four of the state's five biggest cities — Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and Fort Worth — are expected to be under such orders. The only possible holdout is Houston, the state's most populous city.

Abbott said he would applaud some local authorities for issuing such an order, while he would remain flexible on strategies as the new coronavirus continues to spread.

A Texas Railroad Commission official said no decision has been made yet and the agency is looking into options.

The National Guard was last activated during Hurricane Harvey, the 2017 disaster that devastated the Houston area.

In separate calls with superintendents and lawmakers Sunday, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said decisions on extended school closures would be left up to locals.

The state is experiencing a public health disaster as community spread has been discovered, at least 68 cases have been disclosed and people in each of the five largest urban areas have tested positive.

The accuracy of the count in the state will go a long way toward determining its economic, social and political future.

Montgomery health officials said it's unclear where the patient caught the new coronavirus, but he did not recently travel outside of Texas. Other cases identified in Texas have been linked to international and domestic travel.