By: Teddy Grant

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that he’s lifting the state’s mask mandate on Tuesday, despite warnings from health officials that states should slow down on reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Abbott issued an executive order at a chamber of commerce event, which rescinded his previous executive orders, such as the mask mandate, according to CNN.

“Removing state mandates does not end personal responsibility and caring for your family members, friends and others in your community,” Abbott said. “People and businesses don’t need the state telling them how to operate.”

Today's announcement doesn’t abandon safe practices that Texans have mastered over the past year. Instead, it’s a reminder that each person has a role to play in their own personal safety & the safety of others.

— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) March 2, 2021

The executive order would allow all businesses to reopen to 100% capacity next Wednesday. The governor celebrated his decision on his personal Twitter account.

I just announced Texas is OPEN 100%.

EVERYTHING.

I also ended the statewide mask mandate.

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) March 2, 2021

Health experts have cautioned states not to reopen and that the country needs to have measures in place for the next two to three months, according to CNN.

While the number of COVID-19 cases have decreased thanks to social distancing measures, mask mandates and the availability of the vaccine, numbers are still high. Additionally, new, more transmissible forms of the virus have emerged in recent months.

Houston mayor, Sylvester Turner, blasted Abbott’s decision on Twitter on Tuesday.

“Every time we start moving in the right direction, the Governor steps in and sets us back and makes all of our jobs harder,” Turner wrote.

Every time we start moving in the right direction the Governor steps in and sets us back and makes all of our jobs harder. He minimizes the sacrifices of people and businesses. I just don’t get it. st

— Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) March 2, 2021

In an official letter to the governor, Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo praised the mask mandate because it allowed small businesses to remain open and for kids to return to school for in-person learning.

Ahead of @GovAbbott's "big announcement" teased at 1:30 PM today, @LinaHidalgoTX & @SylvesterTurner urge Abbott not to lift his statewide mask mandate. "Masking requirements have allowed many small businesses to remain open and their employees to return to work," they write. pic.twitter.com/3VLi8W3e6N

— Jasper Scherer (@jaspscherer) March 2, 2021

Texas has been one of the worst states hit with COVID-19. The state has had over 2.6 million positive cases, second to California, and over 44,000 deaths, behind New York and California, according to data from The New York Times.