The Delta variant of Covid-19 is filling Texas hospitals, but Governor Abbott continues to make it clear, there will be no mask mandates in Texas. There will be no capacity limits on businesses.
The Governor says Texans should get vaccinated if they choose to. They can wear masks and social distance. He says Texans know how to be responsible. But the problem is this variant is much more contagious than the older version and perhaps more dangerous. SMU political scientist Cal Jillson says "the governor could say in urban areas, county judges and mayors could institute some controls over people's action, even if he didn't want to do that in rural parts of the state."
Statewide officials led by the Governor have been at odds with leading Democratic officials that run the major cities in Texas. "But as the Delta variants creates havoc and fills up our hospitals, somebody's got to act like an adult and the governor has set the rules. It's up to him to allow local officials to have a little bit more control. If the Delta variant continues on it's path, he'll have to change course."
Harris County is one of several in Texas that have upped the Covid threat level to the highest possible. They legally cannot impose mandates of any kind. Harris county hospitals are full or close to capacity. Mayor Sylvester Turner says "I am not going to be constrained by some order."
A survey of Texas teachers show 80% want ISDs to be able to set their own mask mandates. Jillson says "I think the governor may well be beaten into submission by the coronavirus Delta variant itself. If it continues to be as dangerous as it has been, filling up the hospitals, death rates continue to climb, particularly of the unvaccinated, he will have to make some kind of move."
Arkansas Republican Governor Asa Hutchison changed course. He rescinded a no mask mandate order. The difference, Jillson says, is Hutchison is not up for re-election. Jillson says "I think governor's Abbott and Ron DeSantis of Texans and Florida both are looking at contesting for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, if Trump doesn't try again. They want to look Trumpian, they want to look tough on the virus, they want to look pro-business, so they're reluctant to change and limit business in their states."
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