TeeRoy's 2 Cents:
- National numbers are down, but only from insane highs. They're still roughly the same as the peak of the summer surge.
- Texas is averaging about 7700 new cases and 225 deaths per day over the past two weeks.
- Texas is also lagging well behind the nation in vaccination rollout. Just 12 percent of Texans have gotten at least one dose, compared with 16 percent nationally.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced that he's lifting all coronavirus restrictions.
Abbott said (Tuesday), "It is now time to open Texas 100 percent. COVID has not suddenly disappeared, but state mandates are no longer needed."
All businesses will be allowed to operate at 100 percent capacity, and the mask mandate will be lifted entirely.
County judges can issue local orders if hospitalization rates exceed 15% hospital bed capacity for seven days. (ABC News)