Texas moves to lift mask mandate and ease Covid rules

Texas will lift its mask mandate and allow businesses to reopen at full capacity next week, Governor Greg Abbott has announced.

"It is now time to open Texas 100%," the Republican said on Tuesday.

Texas is the largest US state to end its mask mandate. Mr Abbott has faced criticism from his party over the measure, which was imposed last July.

But the administration of US President Joe Biden has made it clear coronavirus restrictions are still necessary.

Texas has recorded more than 43,000 deaths related to Covid-19, the third highest state toll in the US.

Mr Abbott announced he was lifting of the restrictions in a speech at the Chamber of Commerce in the city of Lubbock on Tuesday.

"Too many Texans have been sidelined from employment opportunities," he said. "Too many small business owners have struggled to pay their bills. This must end."

He said that with increased vaccinations and improved treatment for Covid, the state was "in a far better position now".

"Covid has not suddenly disappeared," he added, "but state mandates are no longer needed."

Mr Abbott's new executive order, which is to take effect on 10 March, rescinds most of his earlier executive orders related to the coronavirus crisis.

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Texas puts White House relations to the test
Angelica Casas, reporting from San Antonio, Texas

Governor Abbott's announcement was no surprise to Texans. After all, the state's pandemic response has been political from the start.

The state's Republican leadership favoured former President Donald Trump's relatively relaxed approach to imposing restrictions. But that created tension with local officials in the state's major cities, which all lean Democrat.

It was control of the disease vs control of the economy. Mask requirements vs maintaining personal liberties. And when the surges came, state politicians were more reactive than proactive.

A year later, not much has changed. The state's death toll and current case rate are still among the highest in the US. That's why critics say Governor Abbott's decision does not follow the science.

So, the decision will be a test to the state - but also to Mr Abbott's relationship with President Biden, who has addressed the pandemic with more urgency than his predecessor.

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What about other US states?
Individual states are in charge of public health policy in the US. At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, most introduced restrictions on businesses and travel.

About 35 required face coverings to be worn in public places - either or outdoor - although enforcement of these mask mandates has been patchy.

With cases and deaths falling sharply in recent weeks, several states have begun easing the restrictions.

Shortly after Mr Abbott's announcement, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said he would do the same in an even shorter time frame.

"Starting tomorrow, we are lifting all of our county mask mandates and businesses will be able to operate at full capacity without any state-imposed rules," Mr Reeves said.

Health experts have warned that the pandemic was far from over and cases could pick up if curbs were lifted too soon.

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President Biden - in contrast with his predecessor Mr Trump - has made fighting the virus a priority for his administration.

On Tuesday he said the US was on track to have enough vaccines for every adult in the country by the end of May.

How has Covid affected the US?
The 28.7 million total confirmed US infections is nearly double that of second-highest India (11 million) and Brazil (10.5 million), according to Johns Hopkins University research
But the US ranks ninth in terms of deaths per 100,000 population, behind countries such as the UK and Italy
At least 90,000 more Americans are expected to have died with the virus by 1 June, an Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) projection says. By late May, the virus will kill around 500 Americans per day - down from approximately 2,000 now
Hospital admission rates have fallen sharply since January
The growing number of new variants, which could spark further outbreaks, remains a concern