Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement Friday of efforts to open up Texas showed, thankfully, that none of the extreme voices on how to proceed have prevailed.

The governor outlined a careful, phased-in effort to allow businesses to open, starting with what he called “retail to go” and allowing more medical procedures not related to the coronavirus pandemic. He established advisory panels to determine the next steps. He confirmed the inevitable, that there’s no way to re-open schools for this academic year. And perhaps most importantly, he pledged to follow medical data.

“We must be guided by data and by doctors. We must put health and safety first,” he said. “We must prioritize protecting our most vulnerable populations.”

Increasingly, and often from part of the governor’s own Republican Party, calls are coming to fling the doors of businesses open, which could bring a skyrocketing death toll. At the other extreme are those who want to extend stay-at-home orders indefinitely, failing to account for the devastation that a sustained depression could wreak on businesses and families.

Abbott’s middle path was mostly on target but not perfect. We would have preferred he delay almost all steps to reopen until May 1. We’re already under stay-at-home efforts through the end of April. Why, then, allow state parks to reopen Monday, even with strict distancing and mask-wearing guidelines? Why expand retail openings starting April 24? Wait another week so more of the virus’ peak spread period passes

We were also disappointed that the governor offered so little long-term guidance. His tone was cautious but hopeful. And it’s true that no leader can predict the future of this pandemic.

But it’s increasingly apparent that we’ll need to modify our lives, activities and even workplaces, possibly for years. Until a vaccine is developed and can be widely spread, some level of sickness and death from COVID-19 will be with us.

Leaders at all levels need to start preparing the public for a long stretch of social distancing and changed behaviors. Abbott has yet to publicly look over that horizon.

The governor also didn’t acknowledge a possibility Texans should be ready for -- a flare-up that causes a return to tighter restrictions on commerce. If case levels spike as we phase in a return to normalcy, we’ll again need to take steps to ensure our health systems aren’t overwhelmed.

Now, it’s up to local leaders to follow up with more guidance. For one, they should remain vigilant that re-opening businesses limit themselves to filling to-go orders and not try to skirt the rules. And Tarrant County could certainly use some firm guidance on whether to wear masks.

But perhaps most importantly, County Judge Glen Whitley, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams, among others, must reinforce that this pandemic is far from over. People made vulnerable by underlying health conditions remain in particular danger. Gradually re-opening businesses doesn’t mean social distancing guidelines and other preventive measures don’t apply. In fact, they become more important.

The key to any of this working is vigorous testing to detect any spike in the spread of the virus. Abbott indicated more tests are becoming available, and that’s important, because Texas remains far behind other states in testing.

New options, including more drive-through sites and rapid-testing facilities, are coming online. To collect the data it will take to ensure we can slowly, safely return to normalcy, we need a massive increase in testing.

When the pandemic began and most of us went home to stay, we began to dream of the day it would all end. Since, it’s become apparent there won’t be a single day.

There will be cautious steps, and overreaching will unnecessarily cost lives. Texans need to understand that and be patient. The more our leaders can explain that and inspire a spirit of cautious optimism, the better it will go.