Today in Lubbock, Texas Governor Greg Abbott addressed small business and community leaders of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce as he announced that it is time to open Texas 100% and end the statewide mask mandate. Below is a report summarizing the remarks made during the announcement.
This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.
Governor Greg Abbott
- Opening remarks thanking community and individuals
- Texas number 1 for business for 16 straight years, continues examples and details on Texas economic success
- Success in Texas happened despite COVID
- Too many Texans have been sidelined and small businesses struggling to pay bills
- Time to open Texas 100%
- States Texas now has antibody therapeutic drugs and Texans have mastered daily habits to avoid getting COVID
- We now have vaccines to protect Texans from COVID, getting it to Texans who need it the most
- By end of month every senior who wants a vaccine shot will get a vaccine shot
- Vaccines will increase
- Almost 2.5 million Texans have recovered from COVID
- Active COVID cases lowest since November, more recovering from it than contracting it
- Clarifies COVID had not disappeared, but says it is clear “state mandates are no longer needed”
- New EO that rescinds most of EOs:
- Next Wednesday all businesses of any type allowed to open 100%
- Ending Statewide mask mandate
- Texans should still continue to follow medical advice…but businesses don’t need a state telling them how to operate
- Removing state mandates does not end personal responsibility,” Abbott says. Vigilance to follow standards is needed to contain COVID, he say
- If COVID hospitalizations rise about 15% then judge may use COVID mitigation strategies in their county but no jail penalty
- Concludes that Texans are doing more than ever to save lives and reduce COVID spread, we must do more to restore livelihoods now