‘For Shame’: TX Governor Swiftly Panned For Lifting COVID-19 Restrictions

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 20: Governor of Texas Greg Abbott looks on prior to Game One of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays on October 20, 2020 in ... ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 20: Governor of Texas Greg Abbott looks on prior to Game One of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays on October 20, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Twitter users were quick to pan Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) announcement on Tuesday ending the state’s remaining COVID-19 restrictions, which includes lifting its statewide mask mandate and capacity restrictions on businesses.

In an address to the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Abbott said that he expects Texans to take it upon themselves to stay safe from the infectious disease that has killed more than 500,000 Americans thus far without a government mandate.

“Today’s announcement does not abandon safe practices that Texans 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,” Abbott said. “With this executive order, we are ensuring that all businesses and families in Texas have the freedom to determine their own destiny.”

Abbott pointed to the recoveries from COVID-19 in Texas, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations and “safe practices” as his rationale for why state mandates are no longer needed, despite also acknowledging in his speech that COVID-19 has “not disappeared.”

Much like his speech on Tuesday that called for opening Texas “100 percent,” Abbott echoed the news in a tweet:

In short order, Twitter users roasted Abbott for lifting restrictions that were mandated to slow the spread of COVID-19:

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