Texas did not fully close down early in the pandemic and was one of the first to reopen 'for business.' Yay Texas! Then, as things began to sour with more coronavirus cases popping up in more heavily populated cities in the states, those mayors instituted mask requirements for their jurisdictions. BUT--the Governor, said, "No you don't--you can't do that, no one in the state is required to wear masks."
He loosened this up a bit a few weeks ago and then has just recently jumped into the deep end of the mask pool by requiring Texans to all wear masks, under penalty of a fine.
It is amazing what science and an exploding number of COVID-19 cases, followed by surging hospitalizations, will do to one's political thinking. It is a classic 'politics meets science and reality' moment.
The problem for Texans is that it will take at least two weeks for the preventative nature of wearing a mask kicks in to help decrease the case numbers. Meanwhile--you have mixed messages with the Lt. Governor of Texas decrying all this mask wearing and slamming Dr. Fauci for being "wrong on every issue."
Mixed messages are a public information officer and public health professional's worst nightmare.
Speaking of "full speed stern" as in reversing course, President Trump is now suggesting, but not mandating people wear masks. Poll numbers do have matter after all, even if the science has no impact.
Lastly, churches in Texas do not have to follow the mask guidance. They are free to infect as many parishioners as they can. It is not in the Bible, but there is a popular saying, "God helps them, who help themselves" which might just apply in this case.
