Texas governor Abbott on ending mask order: 'We no longer need government running our lives'

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is opening up about his decision to end the state mask mandate, stressing that he still urges residents to take precautions, but Texans "no longer need government running our lives."

On March 10, Texas' mask order will end and businesses can reopen at full capacity, Abbott announced Tuesday.

In a Thursday interview with ABC Houston station KTRK, Abbott said the decision "was a product of the data that we have seen."

Thursday marked the lowest positivity rate and number of hospitalizations since October, Abbott said. Over 50% of Texans ages 65 and older have received at least one vaccine shot, he added.

"All the metrics are moving in the right direction," he told KTRK. "The numbers are adequate for people to be able to go back to work, open up and get back to a sense of normalcy, especially for our kids and schools, while at the same time making sure that people do follow the best practices."

"We are still urging people to continue to wear the mask," Abbott said.

In the face of backlash over his decision, including from President Joe Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci, Abbott conceded, "There'... (Read more)

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