The states of Texas and Mississippi are set to lift both their mask mandate and increase the capacity of businesses, venues and public facilities back to 100% over the coming days. In addition to allowing full-scale social gatherings, this also paves the way for sporting events, concerts and other large scale venues to return back to normal. Texan Governor Greg Abbott‘s executive order on the matter will go into effect next Wednesday, March 10th.
Abbott said in a statement:
“With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools to protect Texans from the virus. We must now do more to restore the livelihoods and normalcy for Texans by opening Texas 100 percent. Make no mistake, COVID-19 has not disappeared, but it is clear from recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations, and safe practices that Texans are using that state mandates are no longer needed.
Today’s announcement does not abandon safe practices that Texans have mastered over the past year. Instead it is a reminder that each person has a role to play in their own personal safety and the safety of others. With this executive order, we are ensuring that all business and families in Texas have the freedom to determine their own destiny.”
NEW: Issuing an executive order to lift the mask mandate and open Texas to 100 percent. pic.twitter.com/P4UywmWeuN
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) March 2, 2021
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves issued a statement on his state’s mask and capacity restrictions being lifted as well. That order will go into effect tomorrow, March 03rd. He made several tweets on the matter, they read:
Starting tomorrow, we are lifting all of our county mask mandates and businesses will be able to operate at full capacity without any state-imposed rules. Our hospitalizations and case numbers have plummeted, and the vaccine is being rapidly distributed. It is time!
— Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) March 2, 2021
Executive orders that interfered with peoples’ lives were the worst, but the only possible, intervention for much of the last year. Now, we are putting our focus towards rapid vaccine distribution. We are getting out of the business of telling people what they can and cannot do.
— Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) March 2, 2021
We’ve been among the 4 or 5 most open states throughout this crisis, and we’ve been rewarded for it with more jobs and economic recovery. That’s not because what we put in place was a light burden. It’s only because the rest of the country was so harsh. That’s good, but…
— Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) March 2, 2021
We need to recognize that none of these orders, in any state, are anything short of unprecedented. They have to end at the earliest possible moment. This is that moment for Mississippi.
— Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) March 2, 2021
Unsurprisingly their respective decisions have been controversial, drawing waves of both support and criticism. Whether or not many artists or sporting events will take advantage of these loosened restrictions remains to be seen.
Potential restrictions with other states who are still imposing mask and capacity restrictions could become an issue. The situation could theoretically also make for a possible insurance quagmire in regards to liability for venues and such.
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