Gov. Abbott mobilizes Texas National Guard to testing sites across Texas

Texas National Guard sets up COVID-19 testing site in Fredericksburg

Public health officials have said we can't reopen the state without assessing COVID-19's risk and we can't assess the risk without adequate testing.

AUSTIN, Texas - Gov. Greg Abbott is moving forward with plans to re-open Texas by ensuring community-wide testing. The governor has mobilized the Texas National Guard to set-up COVID-19 testing sites across Texas.

25 mobile testing teams will be stationed in different cities in Texas, equipped with 11 healthcare professionals, support staff and 34 soldiers. In a press release by the governor’s office, the first two sites are set to be in Fredericksburg and Floresville.

Testing has been a top concern for local leaders working to mitigate the risk in Austin and Travis County. During a city council work session, council members discussed availability with Dr. Mark Escott, the Medical Director and Health Authority of Austin Public Health.

Governor Abbott says Texas will have ‘all the testing capability’ it needs

"Texas is going to have all the testing capability that we need," Governor Abbott said.

“We are working along with the state and others to identify appropriate goals,” Escott said.

Escott explained that researchers with Harvard University recommend at least one thousand tests need to be conducted a day. Escott said he hopes by Wednesday the agency will have a better idea of how many tests are needed, expecting that number to be much less.

According to the Texas Department of Health Services 205,399 tests have been administered, 9,369 of those in public labs and 196,030 in private labs as of Tuesday afternoon.

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