Texas Governor No Longer Requires Masks, Opens State 100 Percent

Starting today, Texas will officially become the first state to fully reopen since the coronavirus pandemic started. Governor Greg Abbott made the announcement last week that he would not only reopen the state to 100% capacity, but that residents would no longer be mandated to wear face coverings either. This comes as the state begins to see a downward trend of new covid-19 cases and hospitalizations. Abbott said of his decision “Too many Texans have been sidelined from employment opportunities. Too many small business owners have struggled to pay their bills. This must end.” Many who are critical of the move argue it’s too soon seeing as less than 8% of Texans are inoculated. Not only could the decision lead to another deadly surge, but it could also lead to the spread of new covid-19 variants. Only time will tell if Abbott’s actions will have any negative effects. He is still encouraging everyone to “continue safe practices” even after today. However, there is already word that some conservative groups are planning to hold mask burnings this evening in celebration.