Just one day after the Centers for Disease Control Prevention announced that getting rid of social distance and mask regulations will result in Covid cases to increase, Texas governor Greg Abbott announced that he will be getting rid of the mask mandate in Texas 100%. The state has enough masks, ventilators, and emergency room space to treat patients; however, they are facing a shortage of nurses and doctors who are willing and able to continue the pandemic work. Mississippi’s governor, Tate Reeves, also announced that he will be lifting his state’s mask mandate alongside Texas.

Health care providers in Texas fear that with the governors new decision, the pandemic will be extended once again. President Joe Biden also responded to Abbott’s statement about the mask mandate by claiming how irresponsible his decision is, and that it will affect the American people greatly. Biden said, “I think the governor’s decision was premature. If the goal is to reach herd immunity, we are not there yet. Masking and distancing are an important bridge to herd immunity. We’re still seeing 1000 new cases per day in Houston. We’re getting some 200 new Covid-19 patients per day in the hospitals. Yes, the numbers are down considerably, but that’s still pretty high.”

Photo courtesy of: https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/03/politics/greg-abbott-mask-mandate/index.html