Texas, Mississippi Lift Mask Mandate

Drawing cheers from the right and jeers from the left, the governors of Texas and Mississippi announced an end of statewide mask mandates. The nation will wait to see if the predicted spike in coronavirus deaths will occur (it didn’t happen in Florida when Gov. DeSantis lifted restrictions).

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Wednesday the state will lift coronavirus restrictions next week, including the statewide mask mandate and occupancy limits for business.

Stores like Target will continue to require customers to wear a mask while local police and federal health officials are warning of the consequences.
CVS and Kroger will also maintain their mask requirement policy.
Mississippi made a similar announcement, as Gov. Tate Reeves also ended the mask mandate and lifted all business restrictions.
President Biden blasted the moves, calling it “Neanderthal thinking” and a “big mistake” to end mask mandates.
Gov. Reeves responded to Biden’s slight, saying on Twitter “Mississippians don’t need handlers”, that they know how to protect themselves.

The New York Times led its reporting with criticism from President Biden, following it up with criticism from local officials.
CNN characterized Gov. Abbott’s announcement as back[ing] away from a crisis at a key moment”, comparing it to the situation Texas faced recently after an ice storm.
The Huffington Post led their article with reports that health officials in Texas were not consulted before Abbott’s announcement.

Reactions from Hollywood on the Texas mask mandate repeal were compiled by The Federalist, one of which called the reopening “racist.”
OANN framed their reporting by saying “Mississippi and Texas are ready to put the pandemic behind them” and highlighting both governors’ remarks that resident should still practice personal responsibility.
Failed Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke took it on the chin at RedState, offering up what the blog called “the dumbest, most hysterical condemnation” of Gov. Abbott’s announcement, in which O’Rourke accuses Abbott of being part of a “cult of death.”

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