Nirenberg speaks out against Abbott’s recent comments on possible end to Texas mask mandate

Mayor Ron Nirenberg had a brief, but to the point response for Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Thursday after Abbott recently said during a Corpus Christi news conference that Texas leaders are “evaluating” when the state-wide mask mandate may be lifted.

Many across the state were shocked Abbott would encourage talks of ending the mandate while virus numbers are yet again increasing daily as more Texans venture outside their homes post-storm to receive testing.

At the city’s nightly coronavirus briefing Thursday, Nirenberg said although immunity may be increasing slowly thanks to vaccines, mask wearing shouldn’t end anytime soon.

“But the health professionals are clear that, especially with the variants that are transmitted in our community, now is not the time to let down our masks,” Nirenberg said at the briefing.

The mayor also called a possible end the the mandate a “big mistake.”

Executive Order GA-29 in Texas made mask wearing for individuals mandatory throughout the state starting back in July of 2020, and can only be amended, superseded, or rescinded by the governor.

Though more vaccines are being administered throughout the state, only about 5 percent of Texans overall have been fully vaccinated, according to the Texas Tribune.

Only 117,238 residents of Bexar County have been fully vaccinated as of Thursday.

Karly Williams is a digital producer for MySA. Follow her @karlyjwilliams.