The state of Texas has been hit hard by lockdowns due to the coronavirus. Many Republican legislators are eager to reopen completely, and the Texas Governor Greg Abbott has furthered this pursuit by announcing that on Mar. 10 he will end the state’s mask mandates and allow businesses to operate at 100% capacity. 

According to The New York Times, this announcement comes after federal health officials have cautioned against the move. Abbott’s rationale seems to be that although the coronavirus is still in Texas, lowered case numbers, as well as vaccinations, are enough to move closer to normality. However, many top medical officials have stated that the lowered numbers in Texas may be artificial. The storm that plagued the state has caused people to take fewer COVID-19 tests, which has impacted numbers. 

“People and businesses don’t need the state telling them how to operate,” said Governor Abbott. 

Private businesses have stated that they will take their cues from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Many large brands have announced that they will continue to enforce masks within stores and encourage customers to maintain six feet of distance. However, this may not be enough to stop the spread if people choose to gather in public spaces. 

Texas has a population of around 29 million people, and of them, 5 million have been vaccinated. This number is not enough for herd immunity, and those who have received the vaccine are clustered in more urban areas. Furthermore, of these 5 million, a large percentage has not yet received the second dose of the vaccine which improves effectiveness. Texas is averaging around 7,000 new cases of coronavirus a day, and over 200 people are dying each day of the virus. This is around 15% lower than numbers in February but could increase after repairs from the storm are completed. 

Another concern over the relaxing of restrictions is of new variants which are becoming more prominent in Texas. The vaccine is not tailored for new variants of COVID-19, and many variants are more contagious, which is a concern as citizens can now go without masks. 

After the first wave of coronavirus hit, Texas attempted to reopen in a move that many said was too soon. Reopening after the first wave did seem to result in a surge of cases at the height of the summer. The Biden administration has urged Texas to proceed with caution for any reopening attempts. Furthermore, the CDC still suggests that people continue wearing masks and limiting the size of any gatherings of people. 

These warnings do not seem to have been effective as several states, including Mississippi, have followed Texas’ example by announcing that they would also lift county mask mandates and business capacity restrictions. Mississippi has experienced a sharp decline in cases and deaths but this trend of states pulling back restrictions abruptly does not seem like a positive one. 11 states have never had a statewide mask mandate, and after Governor Abbott’s announcement, it seems like five more states will be joining as well despite health officials’ advice. 

Lack of caution at the beginning of the pandemic was a large part of why the United States is still experiencing difficulties nearly a year later. The United States must help citizens economically; however, coronavirus is a threat to more than just businesses. Coronavirus is a threat to people’s lives.

Photo courtesy of AUSTIN360.COM