Due to the COVID-19 crisis, students are being exposed to a flood of information each day. It can be hard to decipher what this information means for students’ futures. The goal of these announcements is to translate executive orders and LISD news and explain how it affects  students. 

April 17: Governor Greg Abbott’s announcement

State health officials said Texas had 17,371 cases statewide. 169,536 Texans have been tested. The virus has caused 428 deaths and left 1,522 hospitalized. 4,190 Texans have recovered. 

In Governor Abbott’s announcement, he established a statewide strike force with the goal of reopening Texas. The strike force will partner with a team of medical advisors and will work alongside an advisory committee of business leaders to help strategize ways to safely reopen businesses and reboot the economy. 

The governor’s second executive order eases restrictions on non-essential surgical procedures starting April 21. Some restrictions will be loosened and some enhanced, such as standards for seniors in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. The order requires additional infection control policies and restricts the movement of staff between facilities. 

The governor also announced state parks will reopen beginning April 20. Abbott said visitors to the parks must wear face coverings, practice social distancing and cannot be in groups of more than five people. 

The governor teased that on April 27, his administration will share additional steps to reopen Texas while reducing risk of a resurgence of COVID-19.

Abbott also said his team of medical advisors have determined that it would be unsafe for students to gather at schools for the foreseeable future. As a result, classrooms will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. This includes all public, private and higher education campuses. For Hebron students specifically, this means that online school will continue until May 21 and classes are now pass/fail. For seniors, cap and gown pick-up is April 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m in the back drive behind the cafeteria. The prom reschedule date is June 11 at the Perot Museum; tickets will go on sale in May. The graduation reschedule date is June 27, if possible. A July date has been selected as back up. A location for graduation has yet to be announced.