Texas ends mask mandate

[dolphins4life]

Are we nearing the end of the pandemic?  I still wonder what it's going to be like going back to normal.  Florida had it's Super Bowl celebration maskless, and no spikes were reported.

[Dave Gray]

It will wind down slowly.  We likely have a few months still ahead.

Lifting the mandate is a bad call, IMO.  Whatever....didn't sound like there was full compliance there anyway.  I don't really understand the point of removing the mandate for places like grocery stores -- I get it for restaurants and stuff, maybe.

I can only speak for myself, but I don't feel comfortable being in Publix without having a mask on if other people are there, mandate or not.

[Fau Teixeira]

It will wind down slowly.  We likely have a few months still ahead.

Lifting the mandate is a bad call, IMO.  Whatever....didn't sound like there was full compliance there anyway.  I don't really understand the point of removing the mandate for places like grocery stores -- I get it for restaurants and stuff, maybe.

I can only speak for myself, but I don't feel comfortable being in Publix without having a mask on if other people are there, mandate or not.

it's a stupid nothing gesture.. companies will still require masks and those that don't .. will see people avoiding them. I know i will.

[Dave Gray]

it's a stupid nothing gesture.. companies will still require masks and those that don't .. will see people avoiding them. I know i will.

I heard today that HEB (The big grocery store there) will not require them.  If that's true, that would be bad...we're so close to the end here that I'm just worrying about what happens here.  If Desantis lifts stuff like grocery store masking, I would be pretty bothered by that.  There just isn't a benefit to is, is my main thing.  It introduces more (maybe not a ton more, but some more) risk and there's no reward.

[Brian Fein]

The "reward" is "freedom" 

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Just dumb.  There is an economic trade off between shutting things down or greatly limiting capacity.  There is nothing to be gained by lifting mask requirements.

[CF DolFan]

Currently none of these states require masks.

Alaska
Arizona
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Iowa
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
North Dakota
Oklahoma
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas

Massachusetts has lifted all restaurant capacity limits, South Carolina erased limits on gatherings and North Carolina allowed people back inside bars for the first time.

I realize no one here will agree but it seems to me people are realizing that shutting down didn't make much of a difference compared to not shutting down. The situation sucks for sure but not living doesn't help as suicide and kids harming themselves are over the top.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Currently none of these states require masks.

Alaska
Arizona
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Iowa
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
North Dakota
Oklahoma
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas

Massachusetts has lifted all restaurant capacity limits, South Carolina erased limits on gatherings and North Carolina allowed people back inside bars for the first time.

I realize no one here will agree but it seems to me people are realizing that shutting down didn't make much of a difference compared to not shutting down. The situation sucks for sure but not living doesn't help as suicide and kids harming themselves are over the top.

There is an economic trade off on lifting restaurant capacity and Mass has vaccinated everyone over 75 who was willing to be vaccinated. 

Capacity should increase, things open etc BEFORE mask mandates are lifted.  Lifting mask mandates should be the absolute last thing done.  E.g. there should be a period with schools returning to 100% in person learning even though 6 feet can’t be maintained WITH masks.  Full stadiums WITH masks.  Movie theaters WITH masks.

Masks allow all else to be possible.  Getting rid of mask mandates will force future shut downs.

[Pappy13]

Some places are saying they will still require them as store policy like Target but I imagine they won't really enforce it that hard. They were enforcing the policy pretty well, I tried on accident to enter a Target near our house without a mask and they made me turn around and go get one. I wonder if they will still turn people away if they don't have one. They would have to have someone there watching that. Got a feeling that will go by the wayside.

[Spider-Dan]

I realize no one here will agree but it seems to me people are realizing that shutting down didn't make much of a difference compared to not shutting down.

The US has far more COVID deaths than any other western democracy.
(I know you don't trust the numbers coming out of certain undemocratic countries.)

The situation sucks for sure but not living doesn't help as suicide and kids harming themselves are over the top.

Do you have any statistics on an increase of the number of suicides or self-injuries over the last year?
I'm interested to see what kind of number you believe warrants significant action.

[CF DolFan]

Some places are saying they will still require them as store policy like Target but I imagine they won't really enforce it that hard. They were enforcing the policy pretty well, I tried on accident to enter a Target near our house and they made me turn around and go get one. I wonder if they will still turn people away if they don't have one. They would have to have someone there watching that. Got a feeling that will go by the wayside.

Some restaurants are following corporate rule in Florida too. Sonny's bar-b-que is still doing every other table and no salad bar. Consequently I went to a Golden Corral Buffet and people were packed to the gills. You have to wear a disposable blue glove on your serving hand each time and wear masks when walking around but it's still the same ole hog chow lines. Well ... that is except for the chocolate fountain which they have not brought back.

[CF DolFan]

The US has far more COVID deaths than any other western democracy.
(I know you don't trust the numbers coming out of certain countries.)

Beyond that I don't really trust anything that has politics attached to it and unfortunately everything has become political. It's always going to be smeared left or right depending on who is presenting it.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Republican governors are easing up mask requirements for one reason and only one reason:  They NEED move people to die of covid under the Biden administration than under the Trump administration to win in 2022.

[Tenshot13]

Republican governors are easing up mask requirements for one reason and only one reason:  They NEED move people to die of covid under the Biden administration than under the Trump administration to win in 2022.

Probably one of the most ignorant and downright stupid comments I've ever seen on here.  Bravo.

[Tenshot13]

No; the cases (and deaths) are going back up. 

Everything I've seen shows it going down.