Texas governor lifts mask mandate and allows businesses to open at 100% capacity, despite health officials' warnings https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/02/us/texas-governor-mask-mandate/index.html Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday he's lifting the mask mandate in Texas, even as health officials warn not to ease safety restrictions. Abbott made the announcement during a Lubbock Chamber of Commerce event where he issued an executive order rescinding most of his earlier executive orders like the mask mandate. Also announced Tuesday, Abbott said businesses of any type will be allowed to open 100% beginning March 10. "Too many Texans have been sidelined from employment opportunities. Too many small business owners have struggled to pay their bills. This must end. It is now time to open Texas 100%," he said. Abbott's announcement comes as Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to drop across the country. However, health experts say relaxing restrictions now could lead to another surge, especially with the variants spreading. In the last year, Texans have "mastered the daily habits to avoid getting Covid," Abbott said. As of Monday, 6.57% of Texans have been fully vaccinated, according to Johns Hopkins University. Abbott himself said Tuesday 5.7 million vaccine shots have been administered in the state, there is a surplus of personal protective equipment (PPE) and "10 million Texans have recovered from Covid." "Removing state mandates does not end personal responsibility and caring for your family members, friends and others in your community," Abbott said. "People and businesses don't need the state telling them how to operate." Abbott said he knows some officials will worry that opening the state 100% will lead to worsening of Covid in their communities. He says his executive order addresses that concern. "If Covid hospitalizations in any of the 22 hospital regions in Texas rise above 15% of the hospital bed capacity in that region for seven straight days, then a county judge in that region may use Covid mitigation strategies in their county," Abbott said. On a county level, though, a judge cannot put anyone in jail for not following Covid orders and no penalties can be imposed for people who do not wear masks, Abbott said. "If restrictions are imposed at the county level, all entities must be allowed to operate at at least 50% capacity," he said. Texas joins 12 other states that do not have mask requirements.
More and more states will open up as they see the light. Your narrative is failing, GWB. Shout at the rain if you wish, won't change a thing.
Andrew Cuomo beats anyone hands down. How many infected patients did he place in convalescent homes resulting in the deaths of residents in the thousands? Then, he hid the crime right after. If the FBI and DOJ were just doing their jobs, Cuomo would already be charged and locked up in jail where he belongs! The same for the negligence and ineptness of Gavin Newsom. Even now, he is hoarding the vaccines for reasons only known to him when seniors and medical personnel need those vaccines? How many deaths have resulted for his inept handling of Corona Virus despite, draconian lockdowns in California. Extreme liberal ET trolls, you are too dumb to hold those responsible to account just because they are Democrats?
I am sure Texans are glad Andrew Cuomo is not their governor. Add to that the fact that extreme liberals from California probably decided energy policy in Texas came out with that go green 100% BS of theirs without a back up plan? Only extreme liberal dummies would think that green energy will supply all their energy needs. Sure has not happened in California so, why would it work in Texas? When Californians move to another state, they impose extreme liberal policies that destroy that state. Look at Washington and Oregon which are now shitholes. Now, if they moved to Michigan, New York or New Jersey, nobody would care because those states are already dominated by extreme liberal Democrats who will continue to destroy their states. Texans should wise up and not vote for any extreme liberal Democrat or RINO liberal ever. Do it for your kids and grandkids.
This has nothing to do with agreeing or disagreeing with you on this post. I have to admit that you wrote a good headline.
He may be gambling that more people will become vaccinated but will it be enough to prevent the numbers from rising again towards prior highs especially which the variants of Covid-19 reaching Texas. Lets see if another re-opening fails due to governors and residences of Texas not following the science. We'll know in about a month if his gamble (removing restrictions) worked. wrbtrader