Texas Mask Mandate Lifted 'Too Soon' As U.K. COVID Variant Spreads in Houston
Texas is due to lift mask mandates and COVID-related operating limits on businesses amid warnings a more contagious variant is spreading there.
On March 2, governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order effective March 10 allowing all businesses in the state to operate at up to 100 percent capacity in areas that do not have high rates of COVID hospitalizations. In addition, the order said there would be no penalties for anyone who does not wear a face mask, though businesses may still require them.
On March 8, two days before the rule relaxations, the Houston Health Department said there were signs the B.1.1.7 COVID variantalso known as the U.K. variantwas spreading in an active and uncontrolled way through the city.
The department said wastewater samples had been taken from wastewater treatment plants in Houston on February 22. Using these samples, researchers detected the U.K. COVID variant in 31 of the city's 39 treatment plants.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/texas-mask-mandate-lifted-too-soon-as-uk-covid-variant-spreads-in-houston/ar-BB1epD6j?li=BBnb7Kz
All so predictable.