Texas Lifts Mask Mandates

Texas becomes biggest US state to lift COVID-19 mask mandate
https://www.wafb.com/2021/03/02/texas-becomes-biggest-us-state-lift-covid-mask-mandate/

Texas becomes biggest US state to lift COVID-19 mask mandate
ASSOCIATED PRESS
March 02 at 2:35 PM CST
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas is lifting its mask mandate, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday, making it the largest state to end an order intended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus that has killed more than 42,000 Texans.

The Republican governor has faced sharp criticism from his party over the mandate, which was imposed eight months ago, and other COVID-19 restrictions. It was only ever lightly enforced, even during the worst outbreaks of the pandemic.

Texas will also do away with limits on the number of diners that businesses can serve indoors, said Abbott, who made the announcement at a restaurant in Lubbock. He said the new rules would take effect March 10.

“Removing statewide mandates does not end personal responsibility,” said Abbott, speaking from a crowded dining room where many of those surrounding him were not wearing masks.

“It’s just that now state mandates are no longer needed,” he said.

The decision comes as governors across the U.S. have been easing coronavirus restrictions, despite warnings from health experts that the pandemic is far from over. Like the rest of the country, Texas has seen the number of cases and deaths plunge. Hospitalizations are at the lowest levels since October, and the seven-day rolling average of positive tests has dropped to about 7,600 cases, down from more than 10,000 in mid-February.

Only California and New York have reported more COVID-19 deaths than Texas.

“The fact that things are headed in the right direction doesn’t mean we have succeeded in eradicating the risk,” said Dr. Lauren Ancel Meyers, a professor of integrative biology and director of the University of Texas COVID-19 Modeling Consortium.

She said the recent deadly winter freeze in Texas that left millions of people without power — forcing families to shelter closely with others who still had heat — could amplify transmission of the virus in the weeks ahead, although it remains too early to tell. Masks, she said, are one of the most effective strategies to curb the spread.

Abbott imposed the statewide mask mandate in July during a deadly summer surge. But enforcement was spotty at best, and some sheriffs refused to police the restrictions at all. And as the pandemic dragged on, Abbott ruled out a return to tough COVID-19 rules, arguing that lockdowns do not work.

Politically, the restrictions elevated tensions between Abbott and his own party, with the head of the Texas GOP at one point leading a protest outside the governor’s mansion. Meanwhile, mayors in Texas’ biggest cities argued that Abbott wasn’t doing enough.

Most of the country has lived under mask mandates during the pandemic, with at least 37 states requiring face coverings to some degree. But those orders are increasingly falling by the wayside: North Dakota, Montana and Iowa have also lifted mask orders in recent weeks.

Ahead of the repeal in Texas, Democratic lawmakers urged Abbott to reconsider.

“Texas will experience more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths,” state Rep. Richard Peña Raymond, a Democrat from the border city of Laredo, told Abbott in a letter Monday.

Laredo, whose population is predominately Latino, has endured some of the worst outbreaks of the pandemic, running out of beds in hospital intensive care units as recently as January. The international trade hub has been among Texas’ most aggressive cities in trying to blunt the spread of the virus, taking measures that have included curfews.

“Elected by the people, your most fundamental obligation is their health and safety. Please do not abrogate your duty,” Raymond said.

Louisiana transitions into Phase 3 covid plan tomorrow but mask mandates are still in place.
Kudos to Texas and Abbott.

The city of Laredo is on the Mexican border and it's high covid numbers are related to the recent influx of Biden's illegals bringing all sorts of diseases that are obviously not being screened for.  El Paso has been another hot spot.  Same story.

I've only worn a mask at work(I like my job), church (lots of elderly people I like), or hospitals(lots of sick people and heavily policed) since this began. At Walmart, they can continue to part like the Red Sea when I walk in. It's great that the door monitor never asks to see my receipt as I walk out. They just wave me out the door.

I believe ya.

Mississippi follows suit.

Dr Falsey ain't gunna like it.


LIVE: Gov. Reeves axes mandate for masks in Mississippi; replaced with ‘recommendations’
https://www.wafb.com/2021/03/02/live-gov-reeves-axes-mandate-masks-replaced-with-recommendations/

I saw a snippet of Abbott on the local news saying it has to end. Enough is enough.

Election season is coming for him and he knows it.

Our der governor in AR can't seem to make up is mind. He says the mandate will be lifted as of March, 31st, but reads kinda like the Cinderella Story of IF you have all the drapes cleaned, floors washed, and IF you have something to wear.

The guy can't seem to make up his own mind, much less, mine:

The new order changes the directives into "guidance" which he defined as a "strong recommendation." At the news conference, he and Health Secretary Dr. Jose Romero said they do not expect Arkansans behavior to change, as mask-wearing, hand washing and social distancing is still necessary.

"You can't keep directives in place forever," Hutchinson said. "This gives us a safe path to move forward following the guidelines. And if a business believes that they can keep their customers safe and their employees safe and they want to tweak it ... then there's more flexibility."

Although Hutchinson has served as a decent governor, I never did like the guy, and the above may be why.
A 'yes man' trying to please all of the people all of the time, rather than securing a backbone to do what is right, no matter what.

Plus, he sends form letters as replies. Did it when he was my (supposed) Representative, and he just never gave me solid reason to trust him.

Politicians are never to be trusted.
Especially to do the right thing.