On Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott Announced that Texas Will Ignore Warnings from Health Officials and Lift All Covid-19 Restrictions Next Week
On Wednesday, Nearly 50 Members of Covid Survivors for Change, Including Texans, Will Meet with U.S. Senate Offices to Demand Support for Biden’s Covid-19 Relief Bill
AUSTIN, Texas – In response to news that Gov. Greg Abbott will end all coronavirus restrictions in Texas, returning restaurants to full capacity and eliminating mask mandates, members of Covid Survivors for Change, a non-partisan grassroots network of Covid-19 survivors, released the following statements.
“It’s like losing my mom all over again,” said Rosie Davis, a Dallas-based member of Covid Survivors for Change, whose mother died of Covid-19 in a Dallas County nursing home. “I’m outraged and terrified for all the Texans who are still at risk of contracting this deadly virus. Governor Abbott’s decision to lift all restrictions flies in the face of all public health recommendations and shows once again that the governor is far more interested in making a name for himself than he is keeping Texans safe.”
“This decision is an insult to the nearly 3 million Texans who’ve survived Covid, as well as an insult to the nearly 44,000 who’ve died,” said Chris Kocher, executive director of COVID Survivors for Change. “Of Texas’ 29 million residents, just 1.5 million Texans have been fully vaccinated. This decision will result in a body count. We urge Texans to keep wearing a mask and following social distancing protocols, as well as doing everything they can to elect lawmakers who will care about their safety.”
According to the John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, Texas has reported more than 2,700,000 cases of Covid-19 since the pandemic began, leading to more than 43,900 deaths as of Tuesday, March 2. On average, cases have spiked 80% over the last two weeks.
Tomorrow, nearly 50 Covid Survivors for Change members, including Texans, will attend a virtual lobby day with the offices of 16 U.S. senators to demand that they pass Biden’s Covid-19 relief bill immediately to help get us back to safety.
About Covid Survivors for Change
Covid Survivors for Change is a national, non-partisan movement bringing together Americans who have experienced a loved one taken by Covid-19, as well as those who have survived the virus and those whose lives have been dramatically altered by the pandemic. As part of Covid Survivors for Change, Americans are mobilizing to make sure that communities have the funding, resources and leadership in place to address future public health emergencies. Survivors will also find community and healing in meeting other people whose lives have been forever changed by the pandemic. For more information, please visit: covidsurvivorsforchange.org.
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