American Heart Assoc.

Governor lifts mask mandate

by | Mar 2, 2021 | Uncategorized

Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order (GA-34) lifting the mask mandate in Texas and increasing capacity of all businesses and facilities in the state to 100%.

“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 Texas by opening Texas 100%. Make no mistake, COVID-19 has not disappeared, but it is clear from the recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations and safe practices that Texas are suing that state mandates are no longer needed. Today’s announcement does not abandon safe practices that Texas 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.”

During his remarks, held in Lubbock where he was addressing the Chamber of Commerce, Abbott discussed the advancements Texas has made allowing the state to fully open and lift the mask mandate. Nearly 5.7 million vaccine shots have been administered to Texans and the state is now administering nearly one million shots each week. The governor estimates that about 7 million shots will have been administered in Texas. According to a news release, by the end of March, every senior who wants a vaccine should be able to get one.

If COVID-19 hospitalizations in any of the state’s 22 hospital regions get above 15% of bed capacity for seven straight days, a county judge in the region may use COVID-19 mitigation strategies; however, county judges may not impose jail time for not following COVID-19 orders nor can they impose penalties for not wearing a face mask. If restrictions are imposed at a county level, those restrictions may not include reducing capacity to less than 50% for any type of entity.

The executive order rescinds most of Abbott’s earlier executive orders related to COVID-19 and goes into effect Wednesday, Mar. 10. All businesses in Texas can reopen at 100%. The order also ends the statewide mask mandate. Businesses may still limit capacity or implement additional safety protocols at their own discretion.

From Staff Reports • [email protected]

American Heart Assoc.

0 Comments

Related News

House members helped by governor

House members helped by governor

Three Texas House members from Collin County apparently survived Attorney General Ken Paxton’s attempt to punish them for supporting his impeachment. Another has been forced into a GOP primary runoff with two Paxton-backed challengers. Paxton, who was acquitted by the...

read more
Counter measures

Counter measures

If you look at what’s missing from this great land, it’s, a barstool on which to sit, good home cookin’, and a counter on which to eat it. The diners of yesterday need a revival. By John Moore For more stories about the Farmersville community see the...

read more
Early voting begins May 30 for runoff

Early voting begins May 30 for runoff

Runoff election early voting is right around the corner as voters will cast their ballots for two trustee positions on the Collin College board. The runoff election day is Saturday, June 10, with an early voting window that is set to begin Tuesday, May 30, and run...

read more
A little help for our friends

A little help for our friends

Codes of Compassion starts Friday with new focus When the city came up with the idea to take on exterior clean-up projects in the summer of 2020, the focus was to take on one home at a time. The idea, proposed by councilman and Rotarian Terry Williams, was to enlist...

read more
City to celebrate AMD June 10

City to celebrate AMD June 10

For over two decades, Farmersville’s favorite World War II hero, along with veterans and active duty personnel, have been honored in a special day-long community event. The tradition continues this year — Farmersville’s Sesquicentennial year — with the annual Audie...

read more
Election Day Saturday May 6

Election Day Saturday May 6

Residents will have the opportunity to cast ballots for Place 5 on the FISD board of trustees, Place 1 on city council, a special MDD election and Places 1, 2, and 3 on the Collin College Board of Trustees Saturday, May 6. Residents can vote at the Collin College...

read more
The heat is on

The heat is on

After a recent meeting, a coworker mentioned that she and her family had bought a new home. Actually, it was new to them, but it was built in 1963 in what was then and is still now one of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods. What seemed like a typical workplace...

read more
Subscribe 300x250 - Love