California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has again criticized other states, including Texas, which are easing restrictions on the coronavirus, and encouraged Californians to consider wearing two masks on Thursday.
“We are encouraging people, basically, to reduce the use of masks, especially in light of everything I would say is bad information coming from at least four states in this country,” Newsom told a news conference. “We are not going to follow their path. We are concerned about their health and our future.”
TEXAS GOV ABBOTT ANNOUNCES TOTAL BUSINESS REOPENING PLAN, FINAL STATE MASK MANDATE
“I will just note … that the rate of positivity in these states is substantially higher than here in the state of California,” continued Newsom.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, said on Tuesday that he planned to open the state “100%” next week, approximately a year after the pandemic began in the United States.
In this archive photo from October 30, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at a COVID-19 test facility in Valencia, California (AP Photo / Marcio Jose Sanchez, Pool, File)
Abbott issued an executive order that rescinded many of the state’s previous orders, allowing all companies in the state to reopen fully and revoking the state mask mandate next week.
“To be clear, COVID did not suddenly disappear,” warned Abbott during a news conference at a restaurant in Lubbock, Texas, on Tuesday. “COVID still exists in Texas, the United States and around the world, but it is clear from the recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations and safe practices that Texans are using that state mandates are no longer needed.”
Newsom on Tuesday called Abbott’s decision to lift the restrictions “reckless”.
Meanwhile, the California Department of Public Health advised people to wear masks in a blog post on Thursday.
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“We also released updates on the use of masks, encouraging people, especially those who wear cloth masks, to consider using an additional mask and a double mask,” Newsom said on Thursday.
Brittany De Lea of FOX Business contributed to this report.