Greg Abbott will ignore the recent K-12 CDC Mask recommendation per local news. The Governor’s decision comes per statements reinforcing his May Executive Order. The CDC has recommended everyone in the K-12 setting wear a mask indoors. This recommendation is regardless of vaccination status.
Children under 12 are not yet eligible for FDA authorized vaccinations.
When asked by a KXAN reporter about whether Texas would be allowed to enforce mask wearing his press secretary responded: “the time for government mandating of masks is over…”
The spokesperson goes on, “vaccines are the most effective defense against contracting COVID and becoming seriously ill, and we continue to urge all eligible Texans to get the vaccine. The COVID vaccine will always remain voluntary and never forced in Texas.”
K-12 CDC Mask Recommendation or Trump GOP Politics?
The article goes on to question if the new stance is related to primary election politics or actually policy.
Governor Abbott is in a fierce primary contest for the Republican nomination. One opponent, Don Huffines, criticized Abbott for the rolling blackouts in February.
Abbott has sought the support of former President Donald Trump. This move comes as most Texas suburbs are moving away from Trump. The infiltration of the Republican Party by QAnon has led to a voter exodus for the party.
If the Texas Education Agency follows thru, it would not be the first time the TEA worked against science. There have been many cases of TEA withholding money meant for local school districts.