Texas Governor Greg Abbott is facing some major backlash for lifting the state’s mask mandate while declaring, “Texas is OPEN 100%. EVERYTHING.” The Washington Post editorial board calls Abbott’s decision “premature and reckless.”
The result of opening too soon will be viral spread, and more suffering. Only 12.9 percent of the Texas population has received one or more doses of vaccine. They and others previously sickened may enjoy some immunity, but a huge swath of the state’s population remains vulnerable. The winter holidays and the third surge were awful. A fourth surge — which could spread beyond Texas — is the last thing the country needs just as vaccines are being rolled out. Mr. Abbott is throwing a match on kindling.
Texas Democratic Party Chair: "What Abbott is doing is extraordinarily dangerous. He is the worst Governor in modern Texas history. This will kill Texans. Our country’s infectious disease specialists have warned that we should not put our guard down … Abbott doesn't care."
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 3, 2021
Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX) also suggests that Abbott did this to stop people from talking about the other crisis the state recently faced:
“Governor Abbott’s failure to listen to science and medical advice will cost Texans their lives. This decision is reckless and dangerous—and a desperate distraction from the Governor’s dereliction of duty during the power outages. He’s putting politics above the people of Texas.”
Abbott’s decision is also putting businesses and schools in a rather tough position. The Texas Tribune writes:
Abbott’s order will leave it to business owners to decide whether to require customers wear masks inside their establishments. Some say they will keep coronavirus restrictions in place, but some business owners worry those decisions could anger potential customers.
School districts are also weighing whether to keep their own mask mandates in place, but there is no doubt a decision either way will lead to conflict. Zeph Capo, the head of Texas school union AFT says, “@GovAbbott’s callous new orders throw our public schools, students, and teachers into chaos, because it leaves open the question of whether masks will be required in all schools.”
As of today our school district said all mask rules are still in place here in North Texas. This may change as soon as the Texas Education Association makes a statement/decision based on Abbott's order. Teachers are saying they will resign if masking is no longer mandatory.
— AmyH – she/her (@holston_amy) March 3, 2021
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