HOUSTON — Texas could soon be open for business.
On Friday, Governor Greg Abbott announced a phased approach to restart our economy.
“The governor called me Sunday and asked me to be on the task force, and I was honored to do it," said Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale, owner of Gallery Furniture.
RELATED: Gov. Abbott creates strike force, eases medical restrictions and more in plan to slowly reopen Texas
It’s a tough job the Houston talent will tackle.
“The thing we need most is customers, but the priority is safety of course,” he said.
McIngvale told KHOU 11 he supports wearing masks, enforcing social distancing in retail stores and taking employee temperatures before the start of every shift.
There was a noticeably optimistic tone coming from the governor as he outlined a plan.
“The worst of COVID-19 may soon be behind us," Abbott said.
Starting Monday, state parks will reopen. Visitors will have to cover their faces, keep six feet apart from people they don’t live with and limit groups to five people.
On Wednesday, restrictions on surgery will be loosened, allowing for non-essential medical procedures.
On Friday, retailers can offer to-go products that can be picked up at stores.
However, in Houston, there’s a more cautious tone.
“If we take our foot off the brake, we take our foot off the brake, we could easily start moving back in the other direction," said Mayor Sylvester Turner.
“The governor emphasized it’s going to be a very gradual rollout, and the first thing we are going to do is make sure everyone is safe," McIngvale said.
The governor said he will announce more openings on April 27 and hinted these could be for places like restaurants and movie theaters. However, he cautioned you will still have to practice social distancing.
Coronavirus symptoms
The symptoms of coronavirus can be similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include a fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Some patients also have nausea, body aches, headaches and stomach issues. Losing your sense of taste and/or smell can also be an early warning sign.
Most healthy people will have mild symptoms. A study of more than 72,000 patients by the Centers for Disease Control in China showed 80 percent of the cases there were mild.
But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk for becoming seriously ill. However, U.S. experts are seeing a significant number of younger people being hospitalized, including some in ICU.
The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.
Human coronaviruses are usually spread through...
- The air by coughing or sneezing
- Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
- Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands.
Help stop the spread of coronavirus
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Eat and sleep separately from your family members
- Use different utensils and dishes
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, not your hand.
- If you use a tissue, throw it in the trash.
- Follow social distancing
Lower your risk
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- If you are 60 or over and have an underlying health condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or respiratory illnesses like asthma or COPD, the World Health Organization advises you to try to avoid crowds or places where you might interact with people who are sick.
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