Abbott releases statement saying he won’t order mask mandate despite COVID-19 cases rising

In a live interview Tuesday with a Houston television station, Governor Greg Abbott said he will not authorize another mask mandate, despite the state seeing a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases statewide. Abbott said it would be “inappropriate to wear a mask.”

The governor says he is working with local officials to ensure everyone has supplies for people to get the vaccine if they want it. The Delta variant has reignited a surge of hospitalizations due to COVID-19, but current vaccines are proven to be effective against it.

According to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, nearly 75% of Texans ages 65 or older are fully vaccinated and almost 83% are partially vaccinated. Abbott singled out this particular demographic of individuals as those “most in danger” of dying or being hospitalized with COVID-19.

Abbott went on to say that he expects a rise in vaccination rates for school-aged kids and teachers now that the Delta variant is making more people sick. He also added that kids will not be forced by the government or school to wear masks when school starts in the fall.