Abbott on rise in COVID hospitalizations: 'There will be no mask mandates in Texas'

Despite an uptick in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, Gov. Greg Abbott remains steadfast that Texans won’t be required to don masks in schools, businesses and social gatherings.

"There will be no mask mandates in Texas,” Abbott, a Republican, said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, on Aug. 24.

The governor’s tweet cited a news report from The Hill saying some parts of the country have reinstated mask mandates in response to increases in cases and that several Republican leaders, including Abbott, have voiced their opposition to the reimplementation of COVID-19 cautionary measures. The Hill reported that COVID-19 hospitalizations may be slightly rising, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data showing that admission rates are still considered low in virtually all of the U.S.

San Antonio ABC affiliate KSAT Channel 12 reported that the Runge Independent School District (RISD), a public school district some 70 miles southeast of San Antonio, temporarily closed because of a jump in COVID cases. Per KSAT, RISD confirmed 10 active cases among staff members as of Aug. 21. Like all districts in the state, RISD had just started the 2023-2024 academic year.

KSAT reported that the district is slated to resume classes on Aug. 29. CBS News reported that the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) are studying a new, highly mutated COVID-19 variant that researchers have dubbed BA 2.86, which follows the XBB.1.5 variant that emerged earlier this year. As of Aug. 25, there have been 36 mutations associated with BA 2.86, which is a part of the Omicron variant family, CBS News reported. Per CBS News, at least three states have announced discoveries of the variant, with Ohio being the latest.