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Texas, Mississippi lifting most COVID-19 restrictions, mask mandates

March 02, 2021
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3 min read
Austin Texas Capitol
Texas, Mississippi lifting most COVID-19 restrictions, mask mandates
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves both announced on Tuesday that they were lifting statewide mask mandates and opening their states back up for business.

Gov. Abbott announced Tuesday, March 2, in Lubbock, Texas, that it was time to "open Texas 100%."

The Republican governor announced he is lifting the mask mandate beginning next Wednesday. Abbott says that declining infection rates and new vaccines mean the Lone Star State can fully reopen. He issued an executive order (GA-34) rescinding most of his other pandemic orders as well.

At around the same time, Gov. Reeves, also a Republican, followed suit, tweeting "Our hospitalizations and case numbers have plummeted, and the vaccine is being rapidly distributed. It is time!" The Mississippi restrictions will lift tomorrow and businesses will be allowed to operate at full capacity.

Related: State by state guide to coronavirus reopening

Similarly, Gov. Abbott's executive order allows all businesses to operate at 100% capacity, and it also forbids any city or county form enforcing their own mask mandates.

Bars in Texas have already reopened on a county-by-county basis at 50% occupancy with all patrons seated and an 11 p.m. closing time. That is likely to end next week. Gov. Abbott lifted travel restrictions for visitors to Texas on May 20, 2020.

Texas was the second state to surpass 2 million coronavirus cases back in February. Mississippi has a total of 295,295 cases, according to a New York Times database.

Abbott did say:

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"Removing state mandates does not end personal responsibility or the importance of caring for your family members and caring for your friends and caring for others in your community," Abbott said. "Personal vigilance to follow the safety standards is still needed to contain COVID, it's just that now state mandates are no longer needed. Texans should continue following medical advice on preventing COVID."

Democrats in Texas are outraged. Texas Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa said in statement, “From leaving Texans to literally freeze to death, to letting a deadly virus have an open season on our residents, Governor Abbott has proven many times over that he neither understands the struggles of everyday Texans, nor does he care about doing his basic duty to protect them.”

And if you missed it, here’s our country-by-country guide to reopenings and our Africa country-by-country guide.

Gov. Abbott issued a mask mandate on July 2, 2020, after cases began to rise in the state, however, mask usage is more common in some parts of Texas than in others. The New York Times reports Texas has an "average of 227 COVID-19 deaths a day over the past week."

Texas has more than 44,100 COVID-19 deaths, and Mississippi has over 6,700, according to a New York Times Database.

For more information: Visit the state of Texas coronavirus information page and Travel Texas.

Additional reporting by Mimi Wright.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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