The Washington Post nevertheless blames “a broad loosening of public health measures.”
by Jacob Sullum
Reason.com
When Texas Gov. Greg Abbott lifted most of his state’s remaining COVID-19 restrictions at the beginning of March, critics warned that he was inviting a public health disaster. President Joe Biden said Abbott’s changes, which among other things ended the state’s face mask mandate and allowed businesses to serve customers at full capacity, reflected “Neanderthal thinking.” Gilberto Hinojosa, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, said the shift was “extraordinarily dangerous” and “will kill Texans.”
A month after Abbott made those decisions, newly identified infections and daily deaths continue to decline in Texas. According to Worldometer’s numbers, the seven-day average of daily new cases in Texas fell by 56 percent from March 1 to yesterday. Daily deaths fell by 64 percent during the same period.