Satire: Texas Ends Mask Mandate to Scare Californians Away

Misbar discovered that on March 2, 2021, Governor Abbott of Texas lifted the statewide mask order with Executive Order (GA-34). According to the Governor, the reason for lifting the mandate was not to exclude Californians, but rather because he felt that his state was going in a good direction with the COVID-19 virus. According to Abbott: "With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools to protect Texans from the virus. We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans by opening Texas 100 percent. Make no mistake, COVID-19 has not disappeared, but it is clear from the recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations, and safe practices that Texans are using that state mandates are no longer needed." The order will take effect on March 10, 2021 according to kxan.com. 

While the Texas Governor did not lift the mandates to discourage residents of California to stop coming to his state, COVID-19 restrictions have become political. For example, there is strong evidence that, after controlling for a variety of other factors, the practice of mask wearing is significantly less in counties where then-Republican candidate Donald Trump received strong support in the 2016 presidential election.