Month: March 2021

Governors of Texas and Mississippi announced Tuesday that they will lift their state’s mask mandates, as well as lift the restrictions on businesses and facility capacity back to 100%. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the mandates are no longer needed due to advancements of vaccines and therapeutics to protect against COVID-19. The new executive order goes into effect on Wednesday, March 10, rescinding most earlier executive orders related to the coronavirus. Abbott said in address to the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce: “With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools to protect Texans from the virus. We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans by opening Texas 100 percent. Make no mistake, COVID-19 has not disappeared, but it is clear from the recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations, and safe practices that Texans are using that state mandates are no longer needed.” He said the new order ensures “that all businesses and families in Texas have the freedom to determine their own destiny.”

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves made a similar announcement, tweeting, “Starting tomorrow, we are lifting all of our county mask mandates and businesses will be able to operate at full capacity without any state-imposed rules. Our hospitalizations and case numbers have plummeted, and the vaccine is being rapidly distributed. It is time!”

The moves come just days after CDC Director Rochelle Walensky warned that progress in the U.S. against the virus was “stalling,’ adding: “Things are tenuous. Now is not the time to relax restrictions.” However both states have seen declines in the average daily number of new cases of COVID-19. Texas has administered more than 5.5 million doses of vaccine. About 12.7% of Texans have received at least one dose, and 6.5% are fully vaccinated. In Mississippi, some 14.1% of the state’s residents have had at least one dose of the vaccine, and 7.6% are fully vaccinated. The state has administered more than 630,000 doses.

Texas and Mississippi to lift mask mandates and roll back Covid restrictions

Via www.nbcnews.com

Gov. Greg Abbott said Texas would be back open “100 percent” by March 10, and Mississippi Gov….

03/02/2021 4:49 PM

 

Editorial credit: Carrington Tatum / Shutterstock.com

At least 13 people were killed and a dozen others were taken to hospitals after a semi-truck slammed into a SUV carrying 25 people just north of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The highway patrol said the crash occurred at State Route 115 and Norrish Road, at about 6:15 a.m. PT in Imperial County, about 15 miles from the border. A Ford Expedition filled with 25 passengers was hit by a semi-truck full of gravel, the California Highway Patrol said. Those killed included Mexican citizens ranging in age between 20 and 55, while the injured were between 16 and 55. In total twelve people, including the Ford driver, were pronounced dead at the scene and another person died at the hospital.

The semi-truck was headed north on 115, south of Norrish, while the Ford SUV was traveling west on Norrish, just east of 115. Border Division Chief Omar Watson told reporters: “At this point it’s unknown whether or not the Expedition stopped at the stop sign, but it did enter the intersection in front of the big rig. CHP Subsequently the big rig collided with the left side of the Ford Expedition.” The CHP is in contact with the Mexican consulate in hopes of notifying next of kin.

13 dead in California crash, some ejected from SUV carrying 25 people

Via abcnews.go.com

Multiple people have died in a two-vehicle crash in Southern California Tuesday morning, the…

03/02/2021 4:31 PM

 

Editorial credit: Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com