President Joe Biden's reaction to Gov. Greg Abbott's statewide announcement on reopening businesses and lifting mask mandates has made headlines.
Biden made the comments while hosting a bipartisan Oval Office meeting on cancer Wednesday, his first move as president to reinvigorate efforts he made during President Barack Obama’s administration.
When asked about Texas and Mississippi lifting their mask mandates and opening businesses back up to 100 percent, the president said: "I think it's a big mistake. The last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking." he said.
The extension of his comments were reported in the Washington Post.
"Look, I hope everybody’s realized by now these mass make a difference," Biden told reporters. "We are on the cusp of being able to fundamentally change the nature of this disease because of the way in which we’re able to get vaccines in people’s arms....The last thing, the last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking - that, 'In the meantime, everything’s fine. Take off your mask. Forget it.’ It still matters."
Beginning next Wednesday, Gov. Abbott is ending Texas' statewide mask mandate. All businesses can fully reopen, but he added that the removal of the mandate does not remove individual responsibility to prevent spread of the virus.
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