Updated at 5:48 p.m., March 24, 2020: to include Gov. Greg Abbott’s comment. Updated 3:50 p.m., March 24, 2020: Revised to include Patrick’s comments Tuesday and further reaction.

AUSTIN -- Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick repeated his call Tuesday for the country to soon return to work, despite the potential health risks from the ongoing spread of novel coronavirus.

“Obviously we put life and this virus first, as the president does, but we also have to measure that and weigh that with people losing their jobs and losing their businesses,” Patrick said during a tele-town hall focused on COVID-19.

“As a senior citizen, my focus is on my grandchildren and your grandchildren and the entire next generation, that we have an America to leave them," he said. “And on the path that we are on right now, if we close down America, that American dream is going to disappear very quickly.”

Patrick said he agrees with President Donald Trump’s hope to reopen the country by Easter, despite public health officials calls in Texas for stricter social distancing measures to prevent a surge of sick patients from overwhelming the health care system.

“If he needs more time, let’s trust his judgment,” said Patrick, who predicted when people go back to work “they will be smarter.”

Gov. Greg Abbott, though, when asked on Tuesday about Patrick’s and Trump’s comments that emphasized kick-starting the economy, said his decisions will remain predicated on the advice of Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner John Hellerstedt, a physician, and calls with governors and the White House.

“I will base my decision as governor of the state of Texas on what physicians say,” Abbott said, adding that health and safety should be a top priority. “If the goal is to get the economy going, the best thing we can do to get the economy going is to get COVID-19 behind us.”

Texas must bend the curve of COVID-19 growth. Then, “the economy will come roaring back,” he said.

Patrick drew backlash after an appearance on Fox News Monday, where he said the nation should go back to work, while suggesting that “grandparents" should sacrifice to keep the country out of economic turmoil.

“My message is that let’s get back to work. Let’s get back to living. Let’s be smart about it,” Patrick told Fox News host Tucker Carlson. “And those of us who are 70 plus, we’ll take care of ourselves. But don’t sacrifice the country.”

Older people and those with existing medical conditions are at higher risk of contracting severe cases of COVID-19, according to public health officials.

Rep. Donna Howard of Austin, a former nurse who is influential on health policy and a top Democrat on the House budget committee, questioned Patrick’s comments.

“The idea that the only option is for us to sacrifice ourselves is really incredulous to me,” said Howard, who added she too is a grandparent. “I mean, there are definitely other routes we can take that make much more sense.”

San Antonio Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Democrat, called Patrick “dangerous to Texans and Americans.”

Patrick, who presides over the GOP-controlled Senate, made his comments as more counties are ordering residents to shelter in place, a dramatic step meant to stop the spread of COVID-19, which has already sickened at least 750 Texans, according to tracking from The Dallas Morning News. Dallas County on Sunday ordered residents to stay in their homes except for essential work and errands.

Several Dallas-area hospitals over the weekend called on Gov. Greg Abbott to issued a statewide shelter in place, a move Abbott resisted, saying it was premature. Over the weekend, Abbott put in place an executive order that closes schools, restaurant dining rooms, bars and gyms for the next two weeks.

Still, the Texas Hospital Association on Monday urged all communities statewide to order residents to stay at home in an effort to stop the spread of novel coronavirus and avoid a surge of patients who could overwhelm medical centers. The association also requested Abbott be prepared to implement a statewide shelter-in-place order “as the situation becomes necessary,” according to a letter sent Monday by association president and CEO Ted Shaw.

Patrick said he trusts Trump’s judgment and questioned whether the country should shut down in the face of the virus, which is highly contagious. “We have to have a time certain, we can’t say in three months, or six months or 12 months,” he said. "These businesses can’t wait that long.”

If you asked my kids if they would rather have more stuff or have their Grandpa and Nanna, they would choose their grandparents with no hesitation.



This statement is repulsive & unfortunately reflective of the attitude many @TexasGOP in #txlege have regarding people and money. https://t.co/YPKsrTLTJQ — Gene Wu (@GeneforTexas) March 24, 2020

Patrick, who turns 70 next month, also told Carlson he is not living in fear of the virus, but is working from home and only travels when he needs to.

“No one reached out to me and said, ‘as a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance on your survival in exchange for keeping the America that all America loves for your children and grandchildren?’" said Patrick, who has six grandchildren. “And if that’s the exchange, I’m all in. That doesn’t make me noble or brave or anything like that. I just think there are lots of grandparents out there in this country like me."

"I want to live smart and see through this, but I don’t want the whole country to be sacrificed,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Patrick said he backs Abbott’s executive orders, which all have “contained end-dates for re-evaluation.” Abbott’s office did not respond to a request for comment Monday night.

This story includes material from the Associated Press.