And the media and Democrats are losing their minds
Texas becomes biggest US state to lift COVID-19 mask mandate
Texas is lifting its mask mandate, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday, making it the largest state to no longer require one of the most effective ways to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The announcement in Texas, where the virus has killed more than 43,000 people, rattled doctors and big city leaders who said they are now bracing for another deadly resurgence. One hospital executive in Houston said he told his staff they would need more personnel and ventilators.
Federal health officials this week urgently warned states to not let their guard down, warning that the pandemic is far from over.
Abbott, a Republican, has faced sustained criticism from his party in America’s biggest red state over the statewide mask mandate — which was imposed eight months ago — as well as business occupancy limits that Texas will also scuttle next week. The mask order was only ever lightly enforced, even during the worst outbreaks of the pandemic.
This has made many go crazy, such as CNN’s Chris Cillizza
As coronavirus case across the country are dropping, cases in Texas actually increased by 5% over the last two weeks, according to statistics from Johns Hopkins University. Which makes this a very odd time for Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to do what he did on Tuesday.
“Too many Texans have been sidelined from employment opportunities,” Abbott said. “Too many small business owners have struggled to pay their bills. This must end. It is now time to open Texas 100%.”
What Abbott meant by 100% is this: He is dropping the state’s mask mandate and allowing all businesses to open at 100% capacity beginning March 10. He justified those moves by noting that 5.7 million Covid-19 vaccine shots have been given in the state and that Texans have “mastered the daily habits to avoid getting Covid.”
Abbott’s move seems entirely motivated by politics rather than public health. Doctors and public health experts continue to warn that letting down our guard — and our masks — at this point is a major mistake. While vaccinations are on the rise, we remain a long way from herd immunity. (Less than 7% of Texans are fully vaccinated.) And the precipitous drop in cases over the last month or so has quite clearly plateaued even as the number of tests has declined — two indicators that suggest we are not out of the woods just yet.
Does Chris live in Texas? No? Perhaps he should let Texas do what Texas wants to do and mind his own business. And where were his complaints when it was politics driving so many of the unhinged mask and other mandates throughout the nation?
(Texas Tribune) Mayors and county judges in some of Texas’ largest urban areas criticized Gov. Greg Abbott over his decision to lift the statewide face mask mandate next week, saying it contradicts health officials’ advice as infections continue to spread throughout the state, which averaged over 200 reported deaths a day over the last week.
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, a fellow Republican, called Abbott’s order “premature†and asked him to allow more people to get the vaccine.
Most everyone else mentioned are Democrats, but, it begs the question: if masks work, then why is COVID spreading so much? Masks were supposed to stop this, right? Right?
But, stores and businesses are allowed to have their own mandates, and many will. Masks will also be required at airports with federal guidance and on metros.
But, why the focus on Texas? No one made a big deal about North Dakota, Montana, and Iowa lifting their mandates in the last few weeks. Nor Michigan, Mississippi, and Louisiana lifting theirs this week, just like Texas. There are many states which have no statewide mandates. Some have very limited, like with Nebraska, which only requires them “for both clients and staff at barbershops, salons and other personal-care businesses.” Lincoln and Omaha have stricter mandates, being more densely populated cities.
Why? Because Leftists love to hate Texas, because the state is typically a big success. What will the nuts do when the removal of the mask mandate doesn’t see doom?
Read: Texas Lifts Mask Mandate, Allows Businesses To 100% Reopen »
Texas is lifting its mask mandate, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday, making it the largest state to no longer require one of the most effective ways to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The numbers paint a daunting picture. In 2019, consumersÂ
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