Houston Republic

While Gov. Greg Abbott has lifted state-enforced mask mandates across Texas, officials in Houston plan to continue enforcing the safety protocol in its buildings and venues.

Mayor Sylvester Turner wrote a letter to the governor with collaboration from Harris County Judge Lino Hidalgo, advising against the end of the mandate. The letter claimed public health organizations support enforcement of safety protocols such as keep a physical distance of six feet, frequent hand-washing, disinfecting, and wearing a face covering to prevent the spread of the virus.

"Supported by our public health professionals, we believe it would be premature and harmful to do anything to lose widespread adoption of this preventative measure,” the letter read. “Scientific studies have shown repeatedly that the widespread wearing of face masks slows down the spread of the virus.”

While the decision relieves many Texan business owners from the cost of safety measures, Turner urges residents to “speak up, and the people of Texas must hold their leaders accountable” and continue abiding by the safety measures for the sake of preventing infections.

"Masking requirements have allowed many small businesses to remain open and their employees to return to work," Turner said. "The mask order has allowed more students to return to in-person learning and has better protected them, their teachers, and school staff."

Several local organizations, including The Texas Restaurant Association, support Abbott’s decision, mentioning the hardships the industry has had to endure amid the pandemic, to include currently having 167,000 laid-off restaurant employees. Other local organizations agree the decision highlights the state’s improvements in cases, hospitalizations, and vaccination counts. 

“Today’s announcement from the governor is a welcome one for businesses and employees throughout Texas. Businesses know what it takes to operate safely and do not need the heavy hand of government dictating to them how to function,” Invest Texas Council Chairman Ron Simmons said. “As other states in the country keep restrictions in place, Texas will spearhead the economic recovery under Gov. Abbott’s leadership and with the aid of the legislature.”