As Coronavirus cases lower, Texas governor Greg Abbot is fully reopening the state. The state is slowly opening schools, businesses, and more. Along with this, the governor is also lifting the mask mandate. Some citizens are happy with this while others are not.

Many people are eager to get out after being in quarantine for a year now. This move by Texas is going further than other states have at slowly lifting Covid-19 restrictions. “It is now time to open Texas 100 percent,” Gov. Greg Abbott said, adding that “Covid has not suddenly disappeared,” but state mandates are no longer needed. There are however about 4,952 cases this shows cases are dropping but the cases are still high. Many other places such as Chicago, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Francisco are also lifting certain restrictions. Health officials are concerned that the governments are moving too fast with lifting the restrictions.“I know people are tired; they want to get back to life, to normal,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said on Monday. “But we’re not there yet.”

Governor Greg Abbot issued an executive order for the mask mandate to be lifted as well as open Texas 100%. “With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools to protect Texans from the virus,” said Governor Abbott. “We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans by opening Texas 100 percent. Make no mistake, COVID-19 has not disappeared, but it is clear from the 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 businesses and families in Texas have the freedom to determine their own destiny.” Though Texans aren’t required to wear a mask it still highly recommended. Governor Greg Abbot discussed Texas’s incredible advancements such as administering nearly 5.7 million vaccine shots. They are soon to increase the number of people who can get the vaccine. With a surplus of equipment for Covid-19 testing and vaccines being given, governor Greg Abbot made an order to lift the mask mandate and open Texas 100%.

With Texas fully reopened people can go back to work, school, and every other place. The number of vaccines given out and with the lowering of Covid-19 cases the mask mandate was lifted. We are ought to see what will happen with restrictions lifted as some health officials say the governor is moving too fast with lifting the Covid-19 restrictions.