* This is a move as big as all Texas and potentially as historically foolish as drafting Kenny Green ahead of Karl Malone:
Mayors and county judges in some of Texas’ largest urban areas criticized Gov. Greg Abbott over his decision to lift the statewide face mask mandate next week, saying it contradicts health officials’ advice as infections continue to spread throughout the state, which averaged over 200 reported deaths a day over the last week.
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, a fellow Republican, called Abbott’s order “premature” and asked him to allow more people to get the vaccine.
“I am calling on Gov. Abbott to open up additional vaccine tier categories so that more people are eligible to get a vaccine if they want one,” Price said in a statement. “As the state’s directive has changed, so must our response. Now, more than ever, vaccines and testing must be readily available….”
But officials lambasted the latest order because it does not allow local leaders to enforce their own mask mandates. The latest order also removes a previous option available to local leaders: compel businesses to require that customers wear face masks. (Texas Tribune)
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* President Biden’s Tuesday declaration that the U.S. will have sufficient vaccine supply for every adult American by the end of May.
Sort of makes you wonder, uhm, why Texas isn’t waiting until April to lift all the restrictions (which, per my calendar, is not that far away…).
Read the rest here
