Current Events > Texas Governor now asks the federal government for assistance with Covid

(+) Yeah! (+)

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has long been opposed to COVID-19 vaccine mandates as well as other preventive measures, said that his state has requested federal help for testing sites.
"Detecting COVID-19 and preventing COVID-related hospitalizations are critical to our fight against this virus," Abbott said.
In a press release on Friday, Abbott said the state requested "resources for federally-supported testing locations and medical personnel and additional federal allocations of monoclonal antibodies."
Abbott said he requested support for testing sites in Bexar, Cameron, Dallas, Harris, Hidalgo, and Tarrant counties because of their high positivity rates and hospitalization.
Bexar, Dallas, Harris, and Tarrant counties are in the top 25 of all US counties for COVID-19 confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins University's coronavirus resource center.
According to state data, there were 10,892 new cases across Texas as of Sunday. As of December 29, the state had a 26.49% test positivity rate, and over 5,500 COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Abbott also said the state requested additional medical personnel for urban areas as well as supplies of several monoclonal antibody treatments.
Last week, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced the state had run out of sotrovimab, the monoclonal antibody effective against the Omicron variant. In a tweet, Abbott criticized President Joe Biden for not fulfilling a pledge to support states with their COVID-19 response and accused him of "hoarding the anti-body therapeutic drugs & denying states independent access to that medical treatment."
In his press release, Abbot said: "While the Biden administration has cut supplies of monoclonal antibody treatments and testing kits when they are needed most, the State of Texas is urging the federal government to step up in this fight and provide the resources necessary to help protect Texans."
Back in October, Abbott issued an executive order that barred any Texas entity, including private businesses, from issuing COVID-19 vaccine mandates. That ban came after Biden announced plans to require private businesses with more than 100 employees to require COVID-19 vaccination or weekly testing.
"In yet another instance of federal government overreach, the Biden Administration is now bullying many private entities into imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, causing workforce disruptions that threaten Texas's continued recovery from the COVID-19 disaster," Abbott said in the order at the time.
Additionally, on Friday, a federal judge ruled to halt Biden's mask and vaccine mandate as conditions for funding for Head Start programs, KVUE reported.
Following the ruling Abbot said': "Texas just beat Biden again."
Insider was unable to reach Abbott's office at the time of publication.

Do them like the IMF does developing nations. You want help? You have to abide by a ser of rules.

As hypocritical as the GOP is. It's not fair to make citizens suffer (and doctors/nurses too) by refusing federal aid just because Republicans are corrupt and evil.

When you hurt Texans, you're not hurting Greg Abbot or Ted Cruz. They're fine, rich and don't give a shit. You're hurting random dudes

The Hank Hills and John Redcorns of the world

At the same time it's also pointless to help people who are actively destroying themselves.

"Help me I'm addicted to heroin"
"Okay well you go into rehab?"
"No"
"How about going to the doctor to get some narcan?"
"No"
"Will you do literally anything to stop being addicted to heroin?"
"No I just want some money to help pay my bills I'm gonna keep shooting up. Please help me and if you don't I'm gonna tell everyone that you refused to help a suffering junkie which is technically true."

Help me Brandon!!!!

Abbot: Save us, Brandon!

At the same time it's also pointless to help people who are actively destroying themselves.

"Help me I'm addicted to heroin"
"Okay well you go into rehab?"
"No"
"How about going to the doctor to get some narcan?"
"No"
"Will you do literally anything to stop being addicted to heroin?"
"No I just want some money to help pay my bills I'm gonna keep shooting up. Please help me and if you don't I'm gonna tell everyone that you refused to help a suffering junkie which is technically true."

M8, you're comparing people who are suffering under a state government, potentially to no fault of their own to heroin addicts.

Are you certain you wouldn't like to rethink this analogy? The state isn't composed of several millions of Greg Abbott's, it's made up of people trying to go about their lives. Some politically active, some who aren't. Telling people to die because of where they live is pretty messed up, especially when cost of living is the largest factor in why they're living there in the first place. Texas is creeping towards turning purple, but refusing aid out of spite would certainly go a long way in returning it to a bright shade of red.

These are some dumb words youve put together.

M8, you're comparing people who are suffering under a state government, potentially to no fault of their own to heroin addicts.

Are you certain you wouldn't like to rethink this analogy? The state isn't composed of several millions of Greg Abbott's, it's made up of people trying to go about their lives. Some politically active, some who aren't. Telling people to die because of where they live is pretty messed up, especially when cost of living is the largest factor in why they're living there in the first place. Texas is creeping towards turning purple, but refusing aid out of spite would certainly go a long way in returning it to a bright shade of red.

Don't worry they're the last words of mine you'll ever see.

As hypocritical as the GOP is. It's not fair to make citizens suffer (and doctors/nurses too) by refusing federal aid just because Republicans are corrupt and evil.

Dats what dey voted for doe

nah itll just keep going blue since the repub voters are the ones unvaccinated and dying of covid

If Republicans didnt have double standards then they wouldnt have any.

Why ask for help...?

They should get the aid, but only of they agree to actually take measures to mitigate the spread of the virus. Otherwise you are just throwing money away.