
It’s premature for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to lift the state’s mask mandate and end restrictions on businesses, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Wednesday.
“I think we at the CDC have been very clear that now is not the time to release all restrictions,” Walensky said during a White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing.
Abbott announced the end of the state’s pandemic restrictions on Monday.
Walensky said the next month or two will be pivotal for the country, and she hopes people will do whatever they can to decrease the amount of the virus spreading in the community – particularly as the country rolls out more vaccines to protect the public.
“I will also note that, you know, every individual has, is empowered to do the right thing here, regardless of what the states decide for personal health, for public health, for their health, and their loved ones and communities,” Walensky said. “I would still encourage individuals to wear masks to do the right thing to protect their health.”