Texas is following the standards set by wide open Florida and Georgia by reopening businesses and lifting mask mandates.
On Tuesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he is canceling the mask mandate and reopening all businesses in the state.
Abbott said all businesses will fully reopen starting March 10.
This is welcome news for business owners who suffered catastrophic losses during the coronavirus outbreak last year.
“Removing statewide mandates does not end personal responsibility,” Abbott said. “It’s just that now state mandates are no longer needed.”
Texas is the largest state to lift mask mandates. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp canceled mask mandates early last year — despite pushback from Democratic lawmakers in the state.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also canceled mask mandates and opened his state for business last year.
Florida and Georgia have lower death and infection rates when compared to lockdown states such as California and New York.
The CDC warned states should reopen slowly due to virus “variants” and “mutations” in the wild.
