Gov. Abbott lifts mask mandate, capacity rules for businesses

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Schools to decide face covering requirement

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Texas became the largest state without a mask mandate Tuesday as Gov. Greg Abbott announced a new executive order lifting of the mask mandate and reopening businesses to full capacity to take effect March 10.

“With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools to protect Texans from the virus,” Abbott said. “We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans by opening Texas 100%.”

Abbott still urged the wearing of masks to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, stating it “has not disappeared,” and he argued rising vaccination rates would counter rising COVID-19 cases.

Under the order, counties inside a hospital region where COVID-19 hospitalizations make up less than 15% of hospital capacity can fully reopen, and no jurisdiction may mandate mask wearing. However, businesses can still require employees or customers to follow preventive measures, but very little can be done in enforcing the requirement with customers.

“A legally authorized official may act to enforce trespassing laws and remove violators at the request of a business establishment or other property owner,” Abbott’s order read.

Hopkins County is part of Trauma Service Area F, which as of press time Friday, reported a COVID-19 patients made up 4.87% of capacity. At its peak, 23.42% of hospitalizations were COVID-related.

More locally, Hopkins County had as of Thursday six patients in the COVID-19 unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances - Sulphur Springs, equating to roughly 6% of capacity. It peaked at 32 patients in early January.

Lifting of the mask mandate goes against Centers for Disease Control guidance which still advises mask wearing in public for everyone ages 2 and older and avoid crowds found in restaurants or bars, the very businesses allowed to open at 100% capacity.

However, those businesses have also suffered blows due to stricter capacity rules, and Texas Association of Business CEO Glenn Hamer stated “the governor is striking the right balance by removing the heavy hand of government and allowing business to operate as they see fit.”

If a county falls inside an area with high COVID-19 hospitalizations, the county may limit businesses’ capacity at 50% but cannot impose a penalty for violations of the order or failure to wear a face covering.

Abbott’s actions faced immediate backlash from large cities. According to the Dallas Morning News, Forth Worth mayor Betsy Price called the move “premature,” and Dallas mayor Eric Johnson called on residents to continue safe practices such as mask wearing.

Texas Medical Association President Dr. Diana Fisher stated Texas is still a long way “from getting enough people vaccinated to establish herd immunity to hopefully get this under control.”

MASKS IN SCHOOLS

Requiring mask wearing in public schools was left to guidance issued by the Texas Education Agency, and on Wednesday, that guidance came.

Local school boards “have full authority determine their local mask policy,” the TEA said in a press release, but schools may continue requiring masks for students and staff if wished.

For Hopkins County schools, Como-Pickton CISD is considering lifting the mask requirement at their Monday meeting. According to the district’s COVID-19 case tracker, they have no current active cases and have had 38 cases among students and staff since the start of the school year.

Sulphur Springs ISD announced Thursday masking requirements would still be in effect for the remainder of the school year, stating “we acknowledge that these rules have been a key component of our heath and safety plan which has enabled us to have school without interruption since August.”

Updates on mask requirements for Hopkins County schools will be published as they become available in future editions of the News-Telegram.