Texas Irrationally Goes Mask-less
posted by Seth Conway | March 5, 2021 | In OpinionOn February 24, Governor Roy Cooper receded restrictions for businesses under his statewide mandate regarding COVID-19. These changes will allow businesses such as restaurants and bars to sell alcohol until 11 p.m., and eases restrictions on social gatherings, increasing the number from 10 individuals per household to 25. Standards pertaining to the usage of face-coverings, hand-washing, and social distancing, however, will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future.
These gradual, measured changes stand in stark contrast to the complete dissolution of statewide mask mandates within the state of Texas.
Governor Greg Abbott’s spokeswoman, Renae Eze, has said that “It is clear from the recoveries, the vaccinations, the reduced hospitalizations, and the safe practices that Texans are using, that state mandates are no longer needed. We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans…” Eze has further clarified that “The governor’s focus has been, and always will be, protecting the lives and livelihoods of Texans.”
While I feel that this sentiment comes from a genuine place of concern for his constituents, it feels irresponsible for one of the largest states within the nation to drop the enforcement of safety standards, before broad immunization is available.
Some Texans have argued that this misjudgment of policy is a deflection from the state power grid failure that rendered parts of Texas without power for up to four days.
One such critic is Logan Tyler, an airman stationed at Lackland AFB, in San Antonio: “I believe [Abbott] continues to mishandle the crisis, he was a COVID denier and did nothing for a long time. Now he seeks to reopen the state to make businesses happy at the risk of the citizens. But he doesn’t care because we don’t write his checks.
While it is impossible to understand the real reasons behind why these decisions are being made, one thing is certain. Texans can’t rely on their governor.
Photo courtesy of Prachatai
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