As the number of coronavirus cases surges in Texas, Austin Mayor Steve Adler says he is weighing a 35-day stay-at-home order for the state capital. “We’re putting it on the table,” he told CNN’s Kate Bolduan.
“We could easily be maxed out in our hospitals and our ICUs within two weeks, having to open up field hospitals in our city,” Adler said.
The community doesn’t want to go back to a lockdown, he said, but a 35-day stay-at-home order would allow the city to stem the tide now, as well as prepare adequately for reopening again.
Even if Texas Gov. Greg Abbott does not approve the order, Adler said the city would go ahead with protective measures.
Texas residents are “hearing mixed messaging coming from Washington and the president, from our lieutenant governor,” Adler said. “My governor is encouraging everybody to wear masks, says it’s the most important thing to do, but won't let us enforce it…and that just sends a mixed message. So you have parties, you have gatherings, and you have people that just are not convinced that this is really serious at this point or that taking those steps effective.”
“That mixed messaging is killing us,” he said.
Watch the interview: